Call for more education to combat knife crimes

The friend of a man who was stabbed to death outside an Asda store has said mandatory jail sentences for anyone found carrying a knife would be counter-productive.

Joe Fitzpatrick was a family friend of Ian Kirwan, 53, who was killed by a 15-year-old boy in 2022.

Dr Sinead O'Malley, whose daughter was killed in Nottingham last year, has called for compulsory prison sentences for those found in possession of a knife.

However, Mr Fitzpatrick said while a stronger deterrent was needed, jail was not the answer for all offenders.

He said for some people, especially youths, a custodial sentence could create "a school for criminals" and mean time in prisons and young offenders institutions could lead to worse crimes.

"We need to educate people, it is all down to education," he said.

He called for more funding for programmes in schools to educate children on the dangers of carrying knives.

West Midlands PCSO holds two examples of 'zombie knives' at a secure police location in Birmingham

However, in an with the BBC on Wednesday, Dr O'Malley said carrying a knife was "no different" to carrying a gun.

"I believe there has to be mandatory prison sentences for carrying a knife," she said.

The carrying of almost all knives in public is banned unless there is a "good reason", such as needing one for work.

In England it is also illegal to sell most knives to anyone under the age of 18.

Some types of knives have been banned outright, including zombie knives, push daggers and flick knives.

Possession or sale of those is illegal, with the government introducing plans on Thursday to close a legal loophole to ban the sale of zombie-style knives, which are similar but lack the graphic imagery and violent slogans often printed on zombie knives.

"Banning any kind of knife off the street is a step in the right direction but it's not enough," Mr Fitzpatrick added.