If Winnipeg wants to reduce knife crime, the city's law enforcement may want to use some ideas from the U.K.
Machetes, in particular, appear to be the preferred weapon in many local crimes – a problem a criminology professor in London says has become widespread in the United Kingdom.
James Alexander from London Metropolitan University spoke to 680 CJOB's The Start explaining that the U.K. has implemented a national crackdown that restricts who can purchase these weapons and increases penalties for young people caught with them.
“If a young person is caught with a knife for the second time – unless there are significant mitigating circumstances – they're going to prison,” Alexander said.
“A key factor in the success has been being stricter on young people caught carrying a knife. If they're released from prison, the first offense that would be considered is a breach of their bail conditions – they go straight back in.”
On Wednesday, Winnipeg police arrested six individuals aged 13 to 21 after machetes and throwing knives were stolen from Cabela's on Sterling Lyon Parkway. The suspects were located at the nearby Outlet Collection Winnipeg mall and arrested without any issues.
Alexander mentioned that despite the tougher approaches in the U.K. involving immediate action and stricter punishments, examining the root causes of crime is equally vital, especially due to the age of many of the offenders on both sides of the Atlantic.
“We also need to consider long-term measures. … How can we prevent future young people from becoming involved in this?”
“Addressing the long-term support for children and taking a public health approach to prevent young people from feeling the need to carry a knife is essential.”
“This involves taking a long-term approach to supporting the children and using a public health strategy to prevent young people from getting into a situation where they feel they need to carry a knife.”
According to Alexander, there are several underlying factors associated with the type of knife violence observed in the U.K., including poverty, deprivation, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma.
This discussion follows remarks last week from Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth about a spate of youth crime, including numerous incidents involving machetes and other knives.
