Emma
I believe a Knife Amnesty simply highlights the issue of knives being carried by people of all ages for the express intention of 'defence'. Is it not strange how issues concerning our right to carry a knife are the same concerns voiced before the hand gun ban in 1997? How many other innocent people like Tom Grant have to suffer stabbing before this issue is taken seriously!

Gunter
The only reason to own a knife is if you are a thai/chinese/far-east cook. Everyone should learn to eat with chopsticks. And pencil sharpeners need to be banned before criminals start carrying illegally sharpened assault chopsticks.

Colin Parkinson
You guys are nuts, first you ban guns, that didn’t work, now you want to ban knives, that won’t work either, next you are going to ban Martial Arts, followed by cricket bats, umbrellas and finally rocks. Here is a novel idea, go after criminals and gangs, put them in jail. Let citizens take the proper courses and arm them with firearms, since Florida did this, their crime rates have plummeted, because it’s to dangerous for criminals to go after armed citizens. Over 18 years and millions of concealed firearm permits issued, the state reports less than 1% of the permit holders have been charged with misusing their firearms. The US Justice department indicates that armed citizens were able to foil over 2 million crimes in the US last year alone. I will no longer visit England because of your crime rate and the inability to defend myself and family, and I am not the only one who has said this, your lax attitude on crime and criminals is costing you in tourist dollars. Vancouver, Canada

Steve Robinson
Surely, with the news that over 100,000 knives in this country having been handed in during this Amnesty, the public must realise that we have a very serious problem with 'knife culture' in this country. One can only assume that there must be literally millions of offensive weapons still present on our streets. Until the government get tough and increases the penalty for possession of such weapons, this amnesty will be nothing more than a quick spring clean.

Butters
I say go back to hanging. You use the knife, you forfeit your life.

Derek Wray
Knife Amnesty? Look at the photos - some Inspector with a couple of big nasty ugly knives. Boxes full of knives emptied on the floor - 100,000 knives off the streets! Wow the police are doing a great job!! Well yes they are doing a great job - in PR. Knives off the street? Knives out of a cutlery drawer more like. I'm sure I saw a cheese knife in one phot. Ouside of a couple of nasty knives the police have manage to collect 100,000 items of kitchen cutlery. WEll done the police PR department, but as for knives off the street... well only until someone buys another steak knife from Ikea.

Steven
The term "amnesty" is misplaced, at best. While carrying of knives in some circumstances may be considered illegal, their mere possession cannot be. If it were, then every adult in Britain would be a criminal. And this brings us to the nub of the problem: any medium to large size kitchen knife, filleting knife, carpet knife, or for that matter screwdriver or chisel will do just as well as any "combat" "hunting" or "fantasy" type weapon when it comes to wounding and killing a person. Unless the government is going to turn the Uk into an open prison (perhaps not an entirely unrealistic prospect), and strictly control our access to sweeping classes of ordinary everyday objects, ostensibly because we may possibly harm each other with them, then no such an exercise will work, and none may with clarity be called an "amnesty". Indeed the very fact that it is so called shows a move towards a society based upon suspicion of the public, and away from any principle of an open society based upon adult, personal responsibility, much less innocence until guilt is proven!

Mike Inderrieden
What next, hammers? Golf clubs? The weapon is only the symptom of a much greater ill. Shouldn't we focus on the root cause?

Outlaw 4 Life...
Hell no!! Knife crime only will rise up... So... NO... Kids?! Who knows?! But knifes makes you feel better in many ways... That's why... Me?! I hope not!! Because if I was I killed the man who did it to me...

Kip
Banning objects is useless, it's just a way for a lazy government to trick foolish citizens into thinking they're actually working to prevent crime and make the streets safer. If someone wants to assault or kill someone, they'll find any number of items to use, from knives to punching people to strangling people with piano wire...are you going to ban pianos and hands next? foolish... I've carried a knife for years, and it hasn't made me into a blood thirsty maniac. I use mine as a tool, something to open packages like a civilized human being, rather than gnawing things open like an animal. I also believe i have the right to defend myself, and will do so with proper force, whether or not i carry a knife, makes no difference...

FaCe-T
I don't think it is goin 2 work, carring a shank around is like a fashion if u dnt have a shank den ur jus a nobody and most bois on rd wnt 2 b sum 1 n da only way 2 b a sum1 is to carry a shank n shankin people even if there are other ways to sort out a problem they feel that shankin someone is da way 2 go about it they don't seem 2 realise the example they are settin 4 der little bruvas or sistas or jus yunga children in general they all fink it is a jke bt it rely isnt.

Martin
It’s better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6 and I’ll continue to carry what ever I feel is necessary to protect me & my family.

chris
it would work in theory; less knives, less knife crime, but only people without intent of using a knife would submit one. as for carrying a knife for protection, it's a vicious circle. people arm themselves to protect themselves from the armed, then the same applies against them. the only way to stop the supposed 'need' to carry a knife is to take down the root of the problem that people are protecting themselves against.

Mark
As an American visiting the UK, I am puzzled by the obsession of Europeans with disarming law-abiding citizens. My grandfather's life was once saved many years ago when he was assaulted by a knife-wielding thug back in the States. How was he saved? He had a Colt .45 pistol which he pulled out and pointed in the bastard's direction. Thankfully, he didn't even have to pull the trigger, because his attacker did a quick bit of reasoning and decided that knife vs. gun is a losing battle. Without a gun, he would have been stabbed, probably repeatedly till his life was gone. In the UK, it looks like not only guns, but even knives are no longer legal for law-abiding citizens to use for self-defense. Next thing you know, Brits will be prosecuted by the state for defending their homes against violent intruders. Oh wait, THEY ALREADY ARE.

Nathan
Incomprehensible. Here in the USA, we don't get this excited about a weapon unless it is belt-fed. Will you be wanting me to cut your meat for you?

Jack
Knives don't kill people...people do! If the society is serious about punishing those who carry knives (or any other weapon for that matter) and use them to kill or injur other innocent people whatever their excuse maybe (because they will always have one), then why not impose a 15 years minimum jail sentence (and I mean 15 years) on those individuals and see what happens? The fact is, as long as the judiciary system almost rewards criminals with their pathetic sentencing, criminals will take advantage of that. Maybe it's time to stop the soft approach because it's simply not working.

T Bell
Pretty much standard for this government - use something that isn't actually a major problem to a) remove a liberty or b) make something a criminal offence. It's not about protecting the public, it's about protecting the position of the government

K. K.
As an American who has been robbed at gunpoint and knows that any thug on the street might shoot me dead at the slightest provocation, this debate seems so ... quaint. In a society where people run around blowing each other's faces off, two guys having a knife fight seems almost nostalgic, like something out of 'West Side Story."

Darren
The funny thing for me is the undue focus on the 'terrifying' knives- those large and sometimes multi-bladed things that are featured so prominently in the news. I believe that the truly 'terrifying' are the small, easily carried, easily purchased knives that are likely so often used to strike a fatal blow.

Dom
The amnesty is a pure PR stunt. 1) The lethal 'users' (past and future) of these weapons of course won't hand them in. 2) Every household in the country has a stack of knives in the kitchen drawer. The amnesty is pointless, the real target should be the music, film, computer game and media culture which increasingly promotes and glorifies violence. Also, much tougher sentences for using of knives in wounding, manslaughter and murder.

sonic
i have to say i used to carry a knife. with all the idiot chavs around that start fights on anyone just because they're different from them makes a person scared for themselves and their loved ones. i dont feel safe in my town, i get abuse hurled at me along with bricks and glass. its not something i want when im walking home from the shops. if it going that far how long untill they get as far as trying to throw a punch or get beaten up badly?

Stammon
What a bunch of nincompoops you Brits have become. Stand up for yourselves. Your Government is taking your Knives because it's already taken your Guns. Guns, knives, baseball bats, axehandles and whatever you can carry are equalizers between the week and the strong. You think you are making your society more secure by banning these weapons, but all you do is increase strong arm crime at the expense of the weak. You fear violence, so you bow to it, and thus it enslaves you. An armed society is a polite society. What's happened to Mother England? It was said that the sun never set on the British Empire, now you won't even defend yourself against your own thugs!

Rick, Kansas City, MO, USA
Has smoking crack become the latest craze for England’s law makers? You people have truly gone off the deep end with the knife amnesty. What’s next, clubs and steel toed boots? If you people want this in your county, that is your business. But, don’t use the UN to force this insanity upon my country.

nathan
People carry weapons in public because they feel unsafe. Taking away a specific weapon isn't going to solve the problem of people feeling unsafe. Take away the knives, and people will use rocks, bottles, bricks, boots, sticks, their hands...you can't declare all of those illegal to carry, can you? It seems to me like the focus ought to be on the crime levels that would cause people to feel the need for protection. Speaking of protection....defense against crime isn't the only reason to need a weapon, ANY weapon. Defense against government is another important reason for an armed populace - or at least it's supposed to be in the States. It seems to me that the UK Government is trying its hardest to disarm their populace, and to make sure that they *stay* disarmed. Combine that with the cameras all over the place and the 'anti-social behavior' orders and you've got the makings for a police state...just add martial law!

David Ashford
This is just silly. If a person has performed a criminal act with a weapon, amnesty programmes such as this are a perfect way to dispose of the evidence. As an aside, I emigrated from the U.K. to a rather unique part of the United States; In the town where I live, it is a crime for a household not to own a firearm, although the law is never enforced. Strangely enough I feel safer on the streets of my current hometown than I did when I lived in the U.K., and certainly feel much less safe when I visit my parents in the U.K. Perhaps if the police in the U.K. devoted more time to pursuing criminals than they do targeting motorists things could be improved.......then again, the criminals in the U.K. seem to have more rights that their victims.

Chris
"If you outlaw knifes only outlaws with own them", "the fundamental point about criminals that seems to have been forgotten is that they don't obey the law, it's part of their job description" The vast majority of the knifes that are handed will have been done so by responsible people and would probably never have been used against anyone. the amnesty is a nice idea but futile.

sick & tired
Ban guns, ban knives, ban pointed sticks. It's not going to make a shred of difference- don't blame the implement when the motive and intent is 100% from the person holding the item. How long before the loony left realises that even a ballpoint pen can be used as a weapon, and if they do, then what? Are we all going to be using non-toxic chalk and slates fastened to desks?!

Another Peter
Peter - Re CJA 1988 Section 139a - it doesn't mention locking blades at all (although I wish I had a pound for every time I've heard that old chestnut, including from police, who should know better). All it states is that folding pocket knives with a cutting edge of less than 3" are exempted.

Frank Granda
Okay, I am not a Brit. I am an American and this weapons ban in Britain is unfortunate and silly, now it has reached the point of knives. Whats next bats and blunt objects? The sad thing is that some people in the US (liberals) use the Uk as a model for eliminating firearm and weapons in the states. Very sad.. I say fight it!

Tom
I agree with the majority of people who have written in about this - yes, the idea of a knife amnesty is at least something in putting a message across to say that this disturbing issue is being dealt with, however I really don't think that it will really (by itself) have any impact on reducing the problem, as the ones who are serious about carrying their knives, for their own reasons, I do not think at all will be the ones who will be handing them in . . . It's education and further reinforcement from the bottom up that we need, in order to deal with the problem - as well as maybe a bit more education in writing skills perhaps for some of the 'juicy' examples herein . . .

Oz
I have several knives at home, some with large blades. All are decorative, although they could be used. As many came in from Nepal and are of Gurkha origin there is no way I will be handing them in. I like to think I'm a law abiding citizen, and I don't intend to stab people with them. However I do feel that those who feel the need to carry knives for safety, or whatever other reason they may come up with, will not act on this amnesty either.

Chris
A knife amnesty can only help. Yes there are people who carry knives to look hard but there are those who do it as a reaction to others carrying them/etc and if a knife amnesty reduces the number of knives on the streets then it can only help to reduce the amount of knife-related violence. With regards tougher sentencing: does prison help reduce crime or reduce re-offending? No. It doesn't. The issue which needs to be addressed is why do people carry knives and why do they commit crime, not "lock them up and throw away the key". Look up the stats people. Ex-convicts re-offend, ergo prison does not work.

Ron
a knife amnesty probly wont work, cuz the people who are smart enough to hand in there weapons to help stop violence obviously arent the ones who are out there killing people...

Luke Harman
An amnesty assumes that people will actually want to give up any knives that they may own. However, the reason why a small minority of people do choose to carry knives is rooted deeply in wider social issues. I can't see how allowing for an amnesty will alter that. These people have chosen to carry knives. For any hope that changes will take place there must firstly be greater police or security intervention (as there is when using airlines), secondly far tougher sentences and finally a strong education policy starting from a young age to dissuade, as far as possible, people from carrying knives.

Joe
Surely, the death of Tom Grant on Saturday should prompt people to use this knife amnesty? With such tragic wastes of life happening everyday, anyone who owns a knife should hand it in right away.

Nadège
I am French. I've just spent a year in Scotland. One of the true friends I've made there is called Tom. He is 19 and just amazing. Such a nice and funny guy. He died on Friday in the train on his way home because he intervened in a fight between a man and his girlfriend. He was stabbed because he tried to help that girl. It's not for me to judge whether carrying a knife would have saved Tom or made things worse since I wasn't there when it happened. What I want to say is that this amnesty at least launched a debate. And in this debate, lives of wonderful people are in stake. Your friends or relaties can be involved one day. So let's not just dismiss the issue. I think sanctions might be a deterrent somehow if strongly enforced and advertised.

Big beats
nahhhh this isn’t ever going work. What’s the point yeh people are handing them in for some reason but what all this about u can buy a knife and its legal take it out on the street its illegal don’t get it. It’s all a front the government is putting up a show up for the media to show their concerns but really they don’t know this isn’t going to end it. All this beef going around these days people got no other choice to carry one some times (not that I carry one). Knifes are there and going to be used they got to face it.

exile
what sort of people will hand in their knives? the one's who carry them for violent crime wont be bothered about an amnesty. i use a sword in martial arts training , will i be hauled before the courts as a dangerous criminal if i get stopped by the police?....they will be banning pint glasses next, in case anyone gets hurt in a pub!!!!!

Roy
Do you really think violence is primarily a question of hardware? How many thousands of people have knives for every one who misuses them?

Will
This knife amnesty is pointless and silly, nothing is being done to address the fundamental problems as to why people my age (17) carry knives.

Most of them carry knives because we are demonized by the police and the adult society that is supposed to protect us. We are raised in a society where we are taught from a young age to fear the streets, and with good reason. The police are powerless to protect us from crime and most adults see us as criminals when we have just as much or more fear then they do.

Walk around a city street today in the UK and if your not carrying a knife theres a good chance you will become a crime victim. It's disheartening to see a mugger back on the same street the very next day after being arrested.

Dominic Smith
i feel as if the morality behind the issue has to be applauded, however the effectiveness of it in reality, will bring about little change. The issue is seperate from guns as knives are far more accessable and to simply hand in one will not prevent the same person going into the kitchen and getting another! The efforts of such projects should be focused on the gun amnesty which is far more important at this stage. On saying this, the efforts into reducing the number of knives on the streets will send out a message, and indicate to people that these sorts of crimes are serious and are currently being dealt with!

star kid
i think they should introduce stab vest so people who use knife for protection can feel safe and use the vest instead of carrying knifes ,it will make people feel a bit safe and protected because if you a 15 year old, my age you dont feel safe in the streets so people want some kind of protection before they will put their knifes down and i think the vest will make you feel safe.

charlene
people that carry knifes are jus cowards! peepz using knifes as a weapon really do need to give it up innocent people are getting murked off for the sake of other peoples pleasure man it jus aint ryt!ur not only hurting victims family's ur hurting urself coz u gotta live wid this 4 da rest of ur life. dnt think ull 4get bout it coz boi dan u wont. ma mum was stabbed to death a week b4 christmas in 2000 i av a lil bro that was jus age 5 at da tym, people think kids dat age r 2 young 2 no wots goin off bt dat aint tru, he still remembers to dis day and is so afraid to go n e where near a knife, at least 1 thing i no he wont b going awol wen he get olda. u c it offects otha innocent people yall jus 2 selfish 2 realise!

Kat
I think John has a really strong point, at the end of the day you can buy knifes anywhere, it doesn't matter how many they give up if they have beef with somone they can just grab moms kitchen knife. Plus if you go abroad it's easy to get samurai and other ''antics'' through costums so i think that this idea is totally rubbish- however it is a good idea for guns as this would deffinatly cut down on crimes plus nowadays there seems to be more gun crime now than ever and it will only get worse as years go by and knife crime will gradually fade!

jamie
you have ta have em nowdays or ye get blodded yaself

Peter
Not all knives are illegal to carry. See the 1988 Criminal Justice Act Section 139. This states "It may be an offence under the CJA to carry a bladed or sharply pointed instrument in a public place, unless a good reason can be provided for carrying same. For example your work or hobby. You can legally carry a folding pocket knife with a cutting edge less than 3" (non locking) without having to prove any reason for possession. How can we have an Amnesty for something that is not banned or illegal is ridiculous.

The issue is the spiralling social problems in this country not the knife, bottle, brick, cricket bat etc etc. Damilola Taylor was stabbed wtih a glass bottle not a knife as most people think. Are we going to have an Amnesty on glass bottles? The Home Office also states that knives were only used in 6% of all violent crime 2004/5!

John
I don't get it. Knives may be illegal to carry, but they're legal to own, so why the Amnesty? It makes sense with guns, as people may have grandad's old service revolver or whatever and need an opportunity to dispose of it legally, but this is not the case with knives. I can perfectly legally own a sword if I want (not that I do!). Is this more of a PR exercise to encourage people to get rid of knives they don't need anymore?