The government's response to knife-crime hysteria, the youth crime action plan, is an expensive package of measures, almost exclusively punitive in nature. No surprises there. And let's not be surprised when it all ends in failure. When I've criticised the punitive approach before, people have often said: "OK, but why don't you come up with some solutions?" All right, then. Here are some solutions to the problems of knife crime on our streets. And you will not read the word "punishment" here.
ex-offenders & a few still serving were asked - "if knowing before the offence the length of sentence they would eventually receive would it have deterred them from committing the crime. **All said no. Punishment was not a deterrent.
They were asked to look at their crimes and suggest some causes:
>Early years spent in poverty
>Drug abusing parents
>Exposure to mental, physical or sexual abuse
Other factors include:
>mental health problems
>educational difficulties
>Drug and alcohol use
........and you get a picture of how the Knife-Wielding Hoodies Who Roam Our Streets were formed.
Tackling knife crime means identifiying very young children who are at risk and putting them on an intensive, long-term programme of psychological and social support that will enable them to deal with their own families and the world. Detractors shout that labelling youngsters in this way at such an early age could affect them for life. I say they'll be affected for life if we don't.
And the knife-wielders, that small group of unhappy, dyfunctional youths? We should be ashamed that we turned them out of the house. Any functioning family always involves the kids in its decision-making. It's time to bring them back round the table. What do they want and need? Support, guidance, kindness, jobs, schools that address their needs or some positive role models? Ask them. You will get some surprising and enlightening answers.
When I ask kids about what would help them most, they nearly always say: "Get me out of here." They want to change, but don't know how to.
· Mark Johnson, author of Wasted
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