Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says

Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed.

The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.

Nicola Marfleet - a governor at London's Pentonville Prison - conducted the study after interviewing the teenagers in London.

Under 18s at Feltham Young Offenders Institution, west London and young people excluded from school attending two pupil referral units (PRUs) in Haringey and Hackney were interviewed by the governor.

The young people told Ms Marfleet they carried weapons, like knives, for protection and out of fear of being attacked. Other reasons included experiences of personal victimisation and poor parental ties, which have been replaced by the social ties of a gang.

Two of the teens interviewed said that regardless of the possible penalty, they would continue to carry a knife because they "needed" one for protection.

Meanwhile, almost all of the 24 boys interviewed said they could not rely on parents or the police to protect them from their "enemies".

"The young people I interviewed spoke about their 'enemies' who all carried knives and about how they were always anticipating attack, living under a constant fear of reprisal from other gangs who were armed and therefore they also needed to be," Ms Marfleet said.

"Several young people spoke honestly about their desire to live in a world where they didn't need to carry a knife, but most felt that it had 'gone too far now' and tat there was nothing really that could be done to turn back the tide of knife crime."

Ms Marfleet's research found that using prison sentences to prevent knife possession had - at best - a limited impact on whether young people carried knives.

The Home Office said while the Government "does not apologise for its tough stance on enforcement" when tackling knife crime, they are working closely with schools to educate young people about the dangers associated with carrying knives.

He said: "The police are also working with hospitals to share data on knife injuries and will be carrying out home visits and sending letters to parents of young people where intelligence suggests they are carrying knives.

"No one should be in any doubt of the consequences of carrying a knife. If you do so, you are now more much likely to get caught.

"When you're caught, you're more likely to be prosecuted. And if found guilty, you're more likely to go to prison."

(JM)