People are entitled to feel afraid of knives, says Smith

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The Tories claimed it was an "astonishing admission" that the Government had failed to tackle the problem.

In an interview Ms Smith said: "Of course they are entitled to feel unsafe. I want to help them feel more confident.

"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'." Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said Ms Smith's admission showed "just how badly Labour have failed on knife crime".