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Murder police to visit schools for anti-knife talks
Kevin Widdop28 Sep 2009
Scotland Yard will send murder squad detectives into schools to warn children they face life in prison if they are involved in gang killings.
The move is part of a Met campaign to tackle knife crime that has seen teenage knife murders drop by half.
Children as young as 14 will be told about "joint enterprise", which allows police to press murder charges against gang members who witness a victim being killed.
Commander Simon Foy, head of the Yard's homicide command, said: "It's beginning to be a very strong deterrent factor." The Yard is also piloting an educational DVD aimed at secondary-aged children.
There have been eight teenage knife murders in London so far this year compared with 22 last year.
Reader views (4)
Though they do not face 'life' in prison do they? They get around 12 years - not life.
- Justin, London, 28/09/2009 23:13
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Whatever happened to parental control? Surely, the parents must take responsibility for their children and check on them. Oh I forgot every day in the media we are told parents are too busy, don't have time to cook so fast food is the alternative etc etc. Do any parents nowadays sit down for a family meal with their kids and TALK about what they have done today at school, work and so on?? Perhaps they should then they might find out what makes a family tick.
- Peter, Vienna, Austria, 28/09/2009 16:01
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Sounds OK, as far as it goes, but the problem seems to be a gradual erosion and breakdown in law and order in the UK. It will need more than talk to put this right. Bring back discipline and corporal punishment in schools and never mind the howls of protest from the Left. It will take a lot more than talk to fully reclame your streets.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 28/09/2009 15:13
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I just hope they don't get stabbed in the process.
- Steve, London, 28/09/2009 11:48
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