Government To Tackle Knife Crime With Shocking Images

Disturbing images of knife injuries are being released in the latest government campaign to tackle alarming levels of knife crime in the UK.

Teenagers have designed the graphic images, which show the gruesome aftermath of a knife attack.

One shows exposed intestines from a knife wound and the hand of a victim whose thumb has been severed.

The Home Office says that it wants young people who carry knives to see the potential hazardous repercussions of doing so.

Last week, the Home Office announced that it would invest £5 million in a nationwide effort to stop the spread of knife crime.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith also pledged further support for regions that are leading the national effort to tackle gun crime and other violent criminality.

Findings from The Tackling Gangs programme - which was set up last year - have shown a substantial drop in gun-related crime injuries across targeted areas in London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester.

Early results included a reduction of 51% in gun-related injuries and a drop of 27% in the overall number of gun offences across the four areas.

"These early finding are encouraging, which is why I want to spread this approach to knife crime and build on what works.

"I'm determined that we should do all we can to get all weapons off our streets," she said.

Alf Hitchcock, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on knife crime said: "Knife crime causes massive grief and pain to both victim's families and their communities.

"This campaign will encourage young people to realise they should speak to one another, their parents and others around them for support. It should be remembered that you are more likely to be a victim of knife crime by carrying a knife, rather than a knife protecting you.

"Communities perceive knife crime to be among the biggest threats and that is why we have a duty to the public to take a tough approach."

Young people found in possession of a knife are likely to face a custodial sentence.

The first phase of the three-year campaign will feature adverts in newspapers and the radio as well as two "viral" internet videos.

Postcards will also be handed out by campaigners showing graphic images of the results of knife wounds.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair has said that 210 people have been arrested and 4,277 stop and searches have been made as part of the implementation of 'Operation Blunt 2'.

The images can be viewed on: www.itdoesnthavetohappen.co.uk

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(DS)