Knife crimes, including murder, are incredibly difficult to prevent and the cult of carrying knives as weapons is all too common

I was nearly on an Old Bailey jury for a knife attack murder case. I was called up for Jury service a few years ago for the trial of individuals accused of the murder of a young adolescent, Levi Ernest Morrison, knifed in South London in April 2021. In the Jury selection process fourteen potential jurors were chosen. One opted out and I became the thirteenth on the list and would have been on the Jury had one other been unable to take part. But this didn’t happen. Nevertheless I attended the first day of the Trial when preliminary statements were made describing the crime, the accused and the key factors – both the Prosecution and the Defence cases were outlined. The BBC reporting of the outcome of the case is here.

In this case there was a motive, of sorts, and it was not a random attack. But the key issue was the appalling increase in knife crime that it illustrates. The killers deliberately chose to arm themselves with machetes on the way to seek out their victim. Clearly the easy availability of knives that could be used as weapons was a major factor.

If we compare gun crimes the post-Dunblane laws on gun ownership have contributed to a net reduction in gun crime and especially murders, primarily by eliminating legal handgun misuse and preventing diversion to criminals. Long-term data shows firearm homicides 50/60% lower than pre-ban peaks at roughly 30 per annum. By comparison there are around 200-300 knife homicides every year.

The case I have referred to here featured in a BBC Documentary (no longer available) and later in a video made by the Metropolitan Police. The initial stages of the police investigation are here. Subsequently, after the trial was over, there was an interview with the young victim’s incredibly articulate and objective parents. I urge you to view this video here:

In understanding knife crime it is shocking to see just how common it is and how random killings can be. Sadly the banning of knives that could be used as weapons is impossible – such knives are ubiquitously available in shops and by mail order. Other actions at community and school level are urgently needed.