Knife robberies 'double since 2005'

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A study by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) published in the Sunday Times suggests street robberies involving blades have risen from 25,500 in 2005 to 64,000 in the year to April 2007.

The figures mean on average in the last year there have been 175 knife robberies per day on the streets of England and Wales.

Enver Soloman, deputy director of the London-based CCJS, told the newspaper there were no clear answers as to why there had been such a steep increase in knife crime.

He said: "There is no doubt there are more kids carrying knives but it is not clear why. Much of it is for personal safety rather than for putting it against someone's throat."

Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said he was not surprised by the figures: "We are facing a national crisis with knife crime.

"Why is it that increasing numbers of people do not think twice about slipping a knife into their pocket before they leave the house?

"There are three things we can do to tackle this problem. The first is to have a mandatory five-year sentence for anyone carrying a knife.

"The next is to do a mass, nationwide stop and search. And police should take community leaders with them so they can see the feral youngsters who are roaming our streets.

"And we need to introduce something to occupy the disenfranchised young people. Whether that is national service or mandatory community-based work, it would help."