I am pleased to read that a number of other AB'ers write in support of my constant mantra that education will start to eradicate the issues in society.
But nothing is simple here.
It's not as simple as putting more police on the streets, although to deny that it would help in order to back up government policy, as the Prime Minister is doing, is farcical. She should have the courage to admit that the lower police numbers are having a serious effect on the ability of the police to place officers on the streets where knife-holders are, and are using their knives.
Nor is it as simple as increasingly draconian punishments. Knife-carrying youths are caught up in a mythical culture where 'respect' is everything. They don't actually know what 'respect' is of course, they think it is fear, which it clearly is not, but they carry knives to 'earn respect', and carried knives become used knives far too easily and often.
But the notion of deterrent does not enter their thinking - except maybe to brag that they laugh at the idea of prison, and that it will only add to their street cred.
We are dealing with immature young people in difficult circumstances but that should never be offered as an excuse for murdering people.
The issue needs to be addressed on a number of fronts, and accepting that will be a step towards dealing with it - and the PM admitting failures and stopping trying to avoid embarrassment, would open quite a few doors to practical solutions, that remain closed because of her obstinacy.