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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 1 August 2008

Emily Thornberry

MP calls for more stop and search powers to tackle youth knife crimes

EMILY Thornberry MP has asked Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for more stop and search powers to prevent future youth stabbings.
The Finsbury South MP, in whose ward murdered teenager Ben Kinsella lived, said: “I was asking for more stop and searches.
“When we looked at it, we found no group of young people is being disproportionately targeted. It’s tough on teens but they are the number one victims of this crime. We have to do something immediately to stop [knife crime] spiralling.
“We have to be sure there’s a sufficient amount of stop and searches so people with knives think they could be stopped at any time.”
Ms Thornberry added: “There’s been a campaign for a mandatory sentence for four years for carrying a knife. But this can’t apply to everyone, for example an 11-year-old boy carrying his sister’s manicure set to school.
“The long-term solution is giving young people a safe place to be themselves and positive role models – they need other adult figures around.”
Ms Thornberry held a coffee morning at Goodinge Community Centre on Friday to encourage greater understanding between members of the public and members of the court service.
She said: “We need the courts to properly reflect the concerns the local community have. It’s important for magistrates and judges to reflect public opinion. My role is to get people together.”

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