Morning:
8°c
Make violent boys do national service, says murdered Ben's sister
Rashid Razaq and Danny Brierley3 Jul 2008
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.
Reader views (21)
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, 14/08/2008 12:16
Report abuse
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, 08/07/2008 23:10
Report abuse
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, 04/07/2008 10:40
Report abuse
It doesn't have to be military service, how about civil engineering, time working in care home or paramedical? Some kid gets to spend his time labouring on a project for a year with military discipline instilled and new skills, perhaps even pride, found. somebody working as a paramedic might find new value in life and not treat it so cheaply.
- Aesir, Londonefor, 04/07/2008 10:38
Report abuse
Our Armed Forces have more than enough on its plate without the extra burden of trying to reform mindless thugs. Make the perpetrators of these crimes as miserable as the victims. Put them away for life and no remission. Hard? I know, Cruel? It's that too. But that is the message that needs to be spread.
- Albert Hall, hove england, 03/07/2008 21:45
Report abuse
Agree with the comment about using military service to make people stronger. The sheer weak will in stabbing someone for nothing is so pathetic that prison is unlikely to build the person as is there is nothing to build on. Obviously need to catch the people before they commit the serious offence so a trawl of the streets by the army recruitment team could be a good idea.
- Nick London, London, 03/07/2008 16:27
Report abuse
Good Idea! Pitty our weak pc idiot politicians of all parties will not act.
- Vince London, West London, 03/07/2008 16:12
Report abuse
The Armed Services is not a rubbish bin and not a Borstal for failed parenting, along with Governments soft ideas which give the offenders the idea that breaking the law does not matter. The courts are a joke, this country needs to wake up, and fast.
- Peter Mclaren-Smith, Winchester,UK, 03/07/2008 16:11
Report abuse
It's very sad what happened to Ben Kinsella. He was a lovely boy and had a heart of gold. He didn't deserve to die like that. God Bless Ben Kinsella and may his soul rest in peace.
- Jonathan Aaron, Tottenham, north London, 03/07/2008 15:58
Report abuse
Something must be done and soon, before anymore young people lose their lives. School need to have metal detectors installed, the Police have to be given more powers to stop and search, if you are not carrying a weapon then why would you resent being searched. Everytime someone suggests a good system the P.C. crowd get involved. This country has gone too much the other way, if a few people get upset - tough! The problem needs to be addressed. The problem now is that other young people will carry knives to protect themselves. The sentence for carrying a knife should be 5 years in prison and make sure they serve it and if you are caught with a gun 10 years. That would soon stop it. These kids know the law is an ass, and the punishment doesn't fit the crime. British justice "was" one of the best in the world but unfortunately not the case now. The people who serve the longest sentence are the families and friends of the victims.
- Terry Ballard, Hornchurch, Essex, 03/07/2008 15:37
Report abuse
This seems like a very good idea. But it could be used as the deterrent. Anyone found with a knife, gun or any other weapon should immediately be sent for national service. You do not have to wait for another death. One strike and your out.
- Roise, london, 03/07/2008 14:54
Report abuse
Don't limit it to boys, girls should be included too. They are sometimes more intimidating than the boys and just as violent and disrespectful.
- Jane, London, 03/07/2008 14:47
Report abuse
Yes, Because training kids how to kill professionally will get rid of violence.... this is a knee jerk reaction that should not be taken literally, it's an act of grief and not a sensible suggestion.
- Daveb, london, 03/07/2008 14:45
Report abuse
I couldn't agree more. Bring back national service. Young kids have nothing to do and nothing to feel pride in in this failing country, so they resort to crime. Give them a purpose and lock up anyone carrying a knife anywhere at any time. We need zero tolerance or this will continue.
- Jane, London, 03/07/2008 14:30
Report abuse
National service worked before, so lets give it another chance to see if we can get rid of this very violent society that we now live in.
- Peter, n1, 03/07/2008 14:28
Report abuse
National service is not the answer - an insult to our servicemen and women. Long prison sentences are. But the problems are due to bad parenting, the politically correct atmosphere of schooling and policing and an abdication of civic duty on the part of us all. So, until pigs fly, lock the criminals up and throw away the key. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
- John Johnson, London, UK, 03/07/2008 14:24
Report abuse
Excellent idea! No room in the prisons whack these little yobs in the military. This removes them from our streets AND will give them purpose and likely when they do return to society they will be better and stronger for it.
Of course a good idea like this will never happen, because of the rubbish Politicians we have. Shame.
- Thomas Irvine, London, 03/07/2008 13:09
Report abuse
Take violent young men and train them to be better killers? Maybe it might be more productive to make them do community service, working in rehab with the victims of the kind of mindless violence they perpetrate. Training them how to use guns doesn't strike me as the best idea really!
- Aidan Reid, london, uk, 03/07/2008 13:04
Report abuse
Train them up to use guns instead which they'll then smuggle back and use to be proper criminals, whilst no doubt whinging about their human rights and sueing the Govt ie us taxpayers for big payoffs. Sorry about your loss love but not a good or practical idea.
- Squiz, Islington, 03/07/2008 12:50
Report abuse
Anyone caught with a knife should be sent on a 6 month tour of Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. I reckon these cowards would not dare carry a knife if that was the punishment. Also fine the parents, that would also bring back parental control.
- Elma, Brighton, UK, 03/07/2008 12:48
Report abuse
Make all boys do national service!
They would learn how to behave more than going to university and obtaining useless pieces of paper.
- Bernard Parke, Guildford, 03/07/2008 11:58
Report abuse
