A KNIFE & GUN CRIME Season on Channel 4, starting on Monday 30th June, 2008. Channel 4 takes an unflinching look at the increasing use of violence and weapons by young people on our Nation's Streets. Facing up to some uncomfortable truths about Knife and Gun crime, the season explores the effect of this disturbing trend on offenders, victims and society at large.
http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/D/disarming_britain/index.html
STREET WEAPONS COMMISSION... giving evidence on the 13th May, 2008 in Birmingham Ann Oakes-Odger spoke on behalf of KnifeCrimes.org to the panel of Commissioners headed by Cherie Booth QC. The Commissioners judged 'Westley's Weapons Awareness' as being 2 years ahead of the Government on Education...a Nationwide Education programme is now called for to Year 7's annual intake. The Commission investigated Gangs & Violent Crime by travelling to 5 major citites across the UK to speak to Police representatives, community workers, young people, doctors as well as Victims families.
FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF WESTLEY ODGER...on the 12th September, 2005 a Petition was launched on the Anniversary...with the support of Bob Russell MP a Home Affairs Select Committee on 'Knives' was also called for. The Petition was Tabled in the House of Commons on the 21st March, 2007. The Petitioners declare:
"We are appalled by the number of people killed through the use of Guns and Knives; we are further appalled that, although the number of people killed by knives is three times higher than those who are killed by guns, the legal system treats Knife Crimes less seriously than Gun Crimes.
The Petitioner therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Home Secretary to introduce legislation so that the carrying of Knives and the use of Knives, and Sentencing Policies, are treated on the same terms as Gun Crimes".
A HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE...after many months of lobbying by Bob Russell on behalf of Ann Oakes-Odger a Knife Debate took place on the 27th March, 2007 to which a Memorandum was submitted (see copy - Knife Crime Resource). As a result of this Debate one of the measures introduced was for figures to be collated in respect of 'Knife incidents' as from April, 2007. For the first time in 2008 the Home Office collated data shows Britain's Knife Crime problem and confirms it's existence even in Provincial areas - see map below:-