Jacqui Smith Statement -"people are entitled to feel unsafe on the streets because of knife crime."

"I understand why people are worried when they see, particularly, young people using knives on other young people, and some of the tragic deaths we have seen.

"That is why we need to be very tough with enforcement and send out a clear message: you will not make yourself safer by carrying a knife."

There has been widespread concern about knife crime after a spate of fatal stabbings of young people, particularly in London.

Earlier this year the Government released figures which showed that one person is stabbed every four minutes.
From the Telegraph .

By Christopher Hope, Home Affairs Editor