Knife crime plea to Blair [View All]

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Knife crime plea to Blair

By Bo Wilson, Evening Standard

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/15283670?source=Evening%20Standard

13 December 2004

The relatives of victims of fatal stabbings are marching to Downing Street today to demand the same punishment for carrying knives as for having a gun


The families of Damilola Taylor, Luke Walmsley, Kieran Rodney-Davis and Bernard Hegarty say the penalty for carrying knives is not sufficient and are calling for sentences of five years in prison.

Paul Walmsley, father of 14-yearold Luke, who was killed by a schoolmate in November last year, said: "If you carry a gun in a public place, you automatically get a five-year prison sentence.

"But if you carry a knife, even a hunting knife with a seven-inch blade, you will probably only get a caution. The worst that will happen is a ?75 fine. That's a sick joke when you realise that the fine is less than a parking ticket.