knife crime menace raises fear levels

A SERIES of highly-publicised stabbings have raised fears that Britain is facing a knife crime epidemic.

But does the spate of horrific crimes signify a deadly rise in violence in society and are the Government and police doing enough to keep the streets safe?

Reporter Richard Hooton asked shoppers in Chadderton if they are worried about knife crime and what they feel can be done to prevent it.

NEW figures show that the number of people treated in hospital for stab wounds rose to nearly 14,000 last year — a 20 per cent increase over five years.

The Department of Health statistics show that an average of 38 people a day were admitted to A&E departments with injuries caused by bladed weapons.

The figures were released at a time when a spate of knife attacks against young people have horrified the nation.

In the last week alone, the murders of Shakilus Townsend (16), stabbed to death by a gang of youths, Ben Kinsella (16), senselessly killed outside a London bar, and French students Laurent Bonomo (23) and Gabriel Ferez (23), found dead with a total of 243 stab wounds, have ignited an outpouring of grief and anger.

There are fears that carrying a knife has become ingrained in the lives of some young people who have been drawn into gang culture.

Even in Oldham, the Chronicle last week revealed a deadly arsenal of weapons had been found by police in local secondary schools, including three knives, a cosh, four BB guns, a cap gun and a multi-tool knife.

Shoppers in Chadderton town centre were mostly concerned about knife crime and, worryingly, some had already suffered.

Friends Terence Ross and Chris Nicholls, both from Chadderton, have been victims of separate knife attacks and while, thankfully, were not too seriously hurt, have the scars to show for it.

Mr Ross suffered a knife wound to his stomach during a row with a drunken man in a pub.

He said: “That guy had too much to drink. He threatened to stab me and I did not believe him. It’s not that bad around here so it’s not that worrying, but it’s serious.

“They get hold of guns and knives too easily. They should stop and search people. They should take weapons off them. The police don’t do enough nowadays.”

Mr Nicholls has a scar under his chin from a bladed instrument. He said knife crime was just stupid and people can get injured over just petty rows. “The police are too slow these days,” he added.

Catherine Walker (25), from Chadderton, said a former partner had recently been stabbed in the stomach by a man in a random attack as he was walking through Westwood.

She added: “It only happened up the road from my house. It does worry me, especially for my children when they are older. I don’t think there’s anything you can do to stop it.”

Constance Brown (80), from Chadderton, said the area around Broadway where she lives is relatively safe but she’s worried that more people are falling victim to knife crime.

“It’s getting worse,” she said. “Every time you pick up the paper there’s a new story on it. I don’t know what the police can do, it seems a hard job. But they never seem to be around when anything happens so I would like to see more police on the streets.”

Matthew Tristram (30), is from Bury but his girlfriend and children, Katie (3) and Rio (1), live in Chadderton.

He said: “It’s getting worse but I’m more worried about the children. It will get even worse and affect them when they are older.

“I don’t think this area is worse than anywhere else. Bury is exactly the same. It’s not youths hanging around on the street where they live, they mix with youths from other areas and go to other town centres.

“The authorities keep coming up with initiatives saying they will get them off the street and create more youth clubs but I don’t think it will work. To be perfectly honest, I don’t know what can be done to stop it.”

But Dennis Bailey (60), from New Moston, said: “It’s always been there, maybe it’s more highlighted now. It’s peaks and troughs and at the moment we are at a peak. There has to be a deterrent for carrying a knife in public. There’s no necessity for carrying a knife.”

Brian and Hazel Smithies, from Chadderton, both feel the problem is getting worse.

Mr Smithies said: “We are concerned with the yobs on the streets at night. We have had problems with garden walls being kicked down and stones thrown at windows and damaged cars. It would be nice to see some police presence in the evening and on the streets.”

Mrs Smithies added: “I think a lot of it is down to violence on TV and in video games. I would like to see some foot patrols, but it’s all the paperwork they have to do.”

Sarah Limer (34), from Lees, said: “It’s a worry and it’s getting worse. Apart from searching people I don’t know what the police can do. I think a lot of it is down to parents and educating children.”