Sir, May I add just one more suggestion to Stephen Pollard’s excellent Thunderer article on tackling knife crime (May 26)? To enforce the law and prevent crime requires an active and fully empowered agent of the law to be present when, or preferably before, such events happen. Subsequent prosecution may make us feel that justice has been done, but it does little to deter future offenders and less to repair the damage already done to victims.

Until we restore our burgeoning Police Service to its principal and originally intended task — patrolling in uniform to prevent crime, deter offenders and protect the public from harm — violence and disorder will continue to increase. The Government has already tried every other option without success.

Lawrence T. Roach
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service, 1990-96

Sir, That the Metropolitan Police intends to prosecute knife-related offences in court (“Proper sentences for knife crime”, May 28) is good news. Magistrates have become increasingly concerned that serious crimes, including carrying a knife, are being dealt with out of court through the use of cautions.

The prevalence of this offence is a worry for all communities. The court is the proper place for these offences to be dealt with where magistrates will use guidelines and case law to sentence appropriately.

Cindy Barnett
Chairman, Magistrates’ Association

Sir, I could not agree more with the comment of Magnus Linklater (“Forget prison. Stick them in the public eye”, May 28). Name and, much more importantly, shame these youngsters. The only way to reverse their habits is to make them feel regret. In this, quite patently, the current system is failing. Parading them before their peers to ridicule and contempt is likely to bear much more heavily upon their future attitude.

John Lynam
Bedford

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