Brown wants teen knife crackdown
Updated on 05 June 2008
The prime minister launches a new call for more teenagers to be prosecuted if they are caught carrying a knife. Lucy Manning reports.
At a breakfast meeting in Downing Street with the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the director of public prosecutions, Gordon Brown backed plans to extend the policy of "presumption to prosecute" for possession of a knife to 16- and 17-year-olds, who are usually only warned or cautioned.
It comes on the a student appeared in court charged with the murder of a schoolgirl found stabbed to death in a block of flats. Thomas Nugusse has been remanded in custody until 21 August.
Arsema Dawitt's mother accused police of failing to protect her daughter after she was threatened. In a statement given by her lawyer, Tsehainesh Medhani said Arsema Dawitt's death was like a light going out in her life.
