What: Islington Council and the police mark their support for an anti knife campaign
Where: Angel tube station (Northern Line)
When: 9am on 18 December, 2006
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Cllr Marisha Ray, Islington Council's Executive Member for Performance and Community Safety and Superintendent Alan Baldwin, from Islington Police, are challenging people's attitude towards carrying knives.
The council and police are taking action in support of the Damilola Taylor Trust campaign and its simple 'Respect your life - not a knife' message. It urges people, particularly the young, to sign a pledge promising not to carry a knife as a means of defence.
On Monday 18 December, Cllr Ray and Supt Baldwin will distribute pledge cards to passers by near Angel tube station asking them to promise not to carry a knife by signing pledge cards and sticking them on a pledge board to seal their promise.
"People remain concerned about knife crime so we must look for other solutions and do more. In Islington we have less knife crime than elsewhere in London but any knife crime is too much," said Cllr Ray.
She added: "We are backing this campaign, which will involve education and prevention as well as the police carrying out some more stop and searches in Islington. This will deter people from carrying a knife, particularly if they think they may be caught with it.
"We intend to take the campaign to our secondary schools in January next year. Many young people who carry a knife carry it for protection and don't realise the damage even a small blade can do. People who carry knives are most likely to be the victims of knife crime.
"Knife crime affects our community, and increases fear of crime, so it's something we should all stand up against. No one should carry a blade for protection. We need people to get behind this campaign by signing the pledge and sharing the campaign's message with people whom they care about."
With support from Islington Council, the police will increase the number of stop and searches carried out on people for knives and metal objects using metal detectors. The decision to introduce stop and search follows three fatal stabbings in Islington, which has otherwise seen a fall in knife related crime, and recent findings showing that knife amnesties do not work.
Superintendent Alan Baldwin, Islington Police, said: "Although knife crime in Islington has fallen we are striving to ensure it is eradicated so that people will no longer become victims. Young people in particular have been victims of some awful incidents this year, some with knives that have been carried for self-protection. We are extremely keen to help youngsters understand the dangers of knives. To do this we will be working with schools and youth groups. We will also be rigorously enforcing the law with regard to carrying weapons. We intend stopping and speaking to people in the more affected areas of our borough with a view to discussing the issues of knives and removing them from the streets where we suspect people are carrying them."
To bring the 'Respect your life - not a knife' message home to young people, council and police officers will visit schools in the borough and ask them to sign the pledge in January 2006. Free T-shirts with the campaign's message will also be given to school kids who give their promise not to carry a knife.
Ends
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008