The United Kingdom is currently grappling with a concerning surge in knife crime, a trend that shows no signs of abating. The root cause, increasingly evident, lies within the growing fear felt by young people and adolescents. Thousands who are not inherently involved in criminal activity are now arming themselves with knives—a desperate measure taken for self-protection against potential threats from robbers or gang members.
To reclaim safety on our streets, a renewed commitment to robust policing coupled with stricter judicial consequences is essential.
A startling reality exists: individuals caught carrying dangerous weapons like machetes, swords, or substantial knives often receive surprisingly lenient sentences. Numerous cases documented online demonstrate the prevalence of suspended sentences for such offenses—a deeply troubling pattern.
“The purpose of prison should be to remove the most dangerous elements from society and provide a harsh lesson in accountability while safeguarding our communities. Currently, this is not happening with knife crime, which explains why the situation continues to deteriorate.”
Consider the case of Gabriel Abdullah, who stormed into a North London supermarket wielding a 10-inch kitchen knife, threatening staff and shouting threats. He received a suspended sentence—a decision starkly contrasting with the jail time recently imposed on individuals for allegedly offensive social media posts.
The inconsistencies in sentencing are further highlighted by instances of repeat offenders caught carrying machetes escaping prison sentences altogether.
While the maximum penalty for knife possession in the UK is four years, judges frequently opt for suspended sentences, failing to deliver the deterrent effect needed. Former police officer Norman Brennan and I are campaigning for change – specifically a Government petition aiming to secure 100,000 signatures to initiate parliamentary debate and push for mandatory five-year sentences for public knife carrying.
We propose a tiered approach: five years for adults and three years for juvenile offenders. This would undoubtedly serve as a powerful deterrent for those carrying knives, whether motivated by intimidation or claims of self-defense. Coupled with proactive stop-and-search policies and targeted awareness campaigns, this could significantly reduce the number of individuals walking our streets armed.
- Sign and share our petition
My dedication to combating knife crime stems from a deeply personal tragedy. I lost my father when I was just 11 years old, murdered by a machete-wielding gang while he bravely defended his pub customers. This experience remains etched in my memory and fuels my commitment to this cause.
My own teenage years were marked by anger and turmoil following my father’s death, leading me, regrettably, to carry a knife myself – driven by fear of suffering the same fate as my father. I understand the mentality that drives many young people to arm themselves. I firmly believe that mandatory prison sentences would have prevented me from carrying a knife then, and can prevent countless others now.
While we cannot eliminate hardened gang members’ access to weapons, our focus should be on addressing the growing number of ordinary individuals—including students increasingly reported to be bringing knives into schools, some tragically resulting in stabbings and murders—who are arming themselves out of fear.
As a father of a 15-year-old son, I am profoundly concerned for his safety; the streets feel increasingly unsafe, even in suburban areas.
The current approach—such as recent proposals to round off knife edges—is insufficient and perceived as mere public relations exercises. With an estimated 100 to 150 million knives already circulating, such measures are a distraction from addressing the core issue.
I remain committed to campaigning for stronger policing and sentencing reform because I believe we can tackle this epidemic—and I am confident that with public support, we will succeed.
You can sign Adam Brooks’ petition for 5-year mandatory prison sentences for carrying a knife here.
