Knife crime searches not effective

Knife crime has risen in some parts of London, despite more police using stop and search powers. [26 January 2010]

Knife crime rose by 8.6% in Southwark, south London, where almost 10,000 searches were carried out over a six month period. Knife crime also rose by 6% in Waltham Forest, east London, where 3,123 searches had been carried out.

Knife crime falls

However, more than 13,000 searches were carried out in Newham in east London, and knife crime fell in the borough by 7.7%. Just 840 searches were carried out in Islington and knife crime fell by 24.8%.

Stop and search - No link with reducing knife crime

Criminologist Professor Marian Fitzgerald said that there is not necessarily a correlation between stop and search and reducing knife crime, as the statistics show. Furthermore, stop and search can alienate young people.

Read more on the BBC News website.

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