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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 5 September 2008

Emily Thornberry

MP offers a chance to air your views on knife crime

MP EMILY Thornberry has embarked on a series of public meetings as an exercise in relaying people’s crime fears to politicians and the courts.
The Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury believes the best way to tackle knife crime is to have more police stop-and-searches and for those found carrying a weapon to be brought before the courts.
She is taking high-ranking representatives from courts and the police to meet residents and will pass her findings directly to home secretary Jacqui Smith.
Ms Thornberry said: “Too many young people are getting off with a caution for carrying a knife. They need to be sent a stronger message. Low-level crime should be punished with cautions, but carrying a knife is not a low-level crime. We need a big consultation on this so that everyone comes together.”
So far, Ms Thornberry has taken north London’s chief prosecutor and the chief executive of the London Criminal Justice Board to meet police and residents in Holloway and Bunhill wards.
Six more meetings with residents in Islington wards are planned over the next two months, starting with Clerkenwell ward in Marjorie Street at 6.30pm on September 13.
Ms Thornberry said: “People have a lot to say and for many it is low-level, anti-social behaviour that is more important than knife crime. But in Islington as a whole knife crime is really very important.
“I will be passing this information to the home secretary and the newly-appointed Knife Tsar afterwards, because those are the people that can make a difference. Jacqui Smith cannot just wave a magic wand – it is us up to the community to come together.”

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