PM gets tough on youth knife crime

Gordon Brown is set to urge prosecutors to take many more 16 and 17-year-olds to court for knife crime.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants 16 year olds prosecuted for carrying knives Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants 16-year-olds prosecuted for carrying knives

As fears grow over youngsters carrying blades, the Prime Minister is calling for fewer cautions to be dished out by police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

He is hosting a breakfast meeting with the CPS, police chiefs and other ministers to discuss the issue, at which he will urge a "presumption to prosecute" policy in cases of knife crime be applied more widely.

Currently, it is only the case in certain hotspots - and then only among those over 18. The PM wants it to be rolled out nationally and to 16 and 17-year-olds. An announcement by the CPS is expected shortly.

"Some of the concerns that have been raised have been in relation to the fact that on some occasions people charged with knife crime are not subsequently prosecuted," Mr Brown's spokesman said.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Brown said carrying knives was "unacceptable", adding: "Every parent will want their teenage sons and daughters not only to be safe, but feel safe in our neighbourhoods.

"That is why knives are unacceptable and we have got to do everything in our power to deter them."

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