More than 200,000 British savers face a fight for their money after a bank collapsed
More...
Make violent boys do national service, says murdered Ben's sister
Rashid Razaq and Danny Brierley03.07.08
The sister of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella today called for the reintroduction of national service to combat knife crime.
Former EastEnders' actress Brooke, 24, said violent boys should be made to channel their aggression productively in the armed forces because current measures such as weapon amnesties were not tough enough.
In an interview broadcast on GMTV this morning, she said: "If these young boys want to pick up a weapon and fight then we let them go over to national service and fight for a good cause." Ben, 16, was stabbed early on Sunday outside an Islington club after a night out with friends to celebrate the end of their GCSEs. He was attacked by a gang of four youths following an argument earlier in the evening.
Miss Kinsella, one of four siblings, revealed her brother had been threatened with a knife once in the past, but had managed to calm the situation.
"He was scared, he sat down at the time and said 'that was the scariest thing' but he just carried on," she said. In an essay Ben had written he was the main character who was stabbed, but forgave his killer. Miss Kinsella said: "It's six lives that have been taken ... At the moment I can't bring myself to forgive what they've done to my mum and dad."
She added that her "biggest wish" now was that witnesses came forward in the murder hunt.
Miss Kinsella revealed how she kissed her brother goodbye and promised to catch his killers as his life slipped away in hospital.
In an emotional interview she said: "I took his hand and kissed him goodbye, telling him I loved him and I was so very sorry - but that I would always be proud of him. He looked like an angel. He had a lot of stab wounds but thankfully they hadn't touched his face, for which I will be eternally grateful. He just looked so beautiful.
"I'm haunted by the fact that Ben's killers are the last faces he saw. And if it takes me forever, I will find them and try to face them in court."
Miss Kinsella told how she was called by her sister, Jade, at about 2am on Sunday. Together, they went to the hospital and called their parents, who were at their holiday home in Kent.
At 3am they received the news that Ben was in a critical condition. By 6am doctors had finished operating and the family faced an anxious wait.
Miss Kinsella said: "He was moved to intensive care but as my parents went to him his kidneys failed. It's as if he was waiting for them. He was gone within five minutes."
The family have set up a fund and launched a website in his memory to fight knife crime.
Donations can be made on the site, which contains a message from Miss Kinsella thanking people for their messages of support.
Two youths, aged 18 and 19, arrested after the killing are still in police custody.
Link to:
Reader views (21)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
National Service, is not a good idea. Period.
How is being made to do something going to make them respect others and themselves, surely in anyone, that would breed contempt? Nobody should be made to do anything. Yob or otherwise.
A lot of people are saying that our armed forces are not a dumping ground for misdirected youth, very true, they are not. But that should not be the main reason why National Service is a bad idea.
On another note, what makes people think Military discipline is going to make a difference? For me, someone yelling in my ear and telling me to polish my boots, would only amuse me (and I have yet to carry a knife or stab someone)
I wish something could be done, something has to be done, but young people and the military do not make a good partnership. Nobody should have to pick up a gun, whether they intend to use it or not.
- David Armstrong, Staffordshire, UK
Yes absolutely bring about some form of discipline and boundary setting operative. But the army should not be used as a dumping ground for the dumb lawless thick & ignorant criminal. Army personnel are intelligent dedicated individuals, so you cannot just open the doors to the military otherwise there is a risk it may affect standards. This insipid and weak government along with some brainless parents have absconded from their responsibility to set boundaries for young people. What are needed are definitive punishments, chain gangs, military style boot camps – THEN conscription and a war duty (full front line combat!) That will knock the sense into them – then when they return get them to do something constructive like teaching the others who are on the same path. Too sensible–Too extreme for all the goodie-two-shoe politically correct?
So–watch this space–nothing will change - After all
What we have is this:
Punishments that don’t fit the crimes
Outdated, out of touch judiciary
Overcrowded prisons and police cells
Weak government who wouldn’t dare hold a referendum about anything the people of the country want… least of all the issue of criminal justice.
Otherwise known as ‘Head in sand-Easy way out’
- Daniela, London
National service isn't about giving someone a gun and teaching them to kill, that is a very ignorant view. National service would teach discipline, respect, team work, pride in one's self and commitment, to a group in the community that has missed learning this at home and as a result have become delinquent. These basics of society have to be taught somewhere and if they can't or won't be taught at home or school, national service must be considered a good alternative and may also give some boys and girls a career that they may otherwise not have had.
- Fiona, London
