Islington Tribune - News: Couple urge no10

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Islington Tribune - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 13 July 2007

Lorraine and James Dinnegan with MP Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street

Couple urge No10 to rid streets of knives

THE Dinnegan family took their campaign against knife crime on Islington’s streets to Downing Street on Tuesday.
James and Lorraine Dinnegan, accompanied by elder sons James and Anthony, spent half an hour inside Number 10 talking to Matt Kavanagh, Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s crime adviser.
Mrs Dinnegan, 40, a home economics teacher, said afterwards: “He really listened to what we had to say and said he would speak to Gordon Brown.
“We are really pleased with what we came away with in terms of the issue of tougher sentences for people who carry knives and also better funding for youth clubs. Now this needs to be done quickly.”
Mr Dinnegan, 42, a masonry worker, added: “We want to make sure no other parents have to go through what we’ve gone through because it is horrendous.”
In a letter to Mr Brown, the couple pleaded: “More resources are needed to educate youngsters about the evil of knives. The penalty for carrying a knife should be the same as that for carrying a gun – they both cause harm and loss of life.”
James Dinnegan junior, 20, a construction worker, said: “We want a five-year sentence to mean five years, increased police on the streets and more stop-and-search powers.”
Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who accompanied the couple, said: “We had a frank and open discussion. I feel it went well and Mr Kavanagh engaged and understood the issues.
“We need to do more to ensure young people are not enthralled by these people who carry knives.
“The impression I got from Mr Kavanagh is he is preparing some advice for the Prime Minister on how this will develop and I will certainly follow that up.”

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