As a youth, though far detached from the dark streets of the capital where knife wielding is quite so habitual, I have watched the trend escalate, and am increasingly disturbed by it - in particular, the apparent innocence of the victims. Is a culture of casual murder emerging so quickly?

Eden Davis , Lampeter , Wales, UK

I think the problem is that mankind is trying to govern itself into living as a "good" society/civilazation in an evil world. Man is evil, always will be evil. However, the very same traits that mankind has and is declared as immoral or illegal is deemed simple animal behavior in the Animal Kingdom.

Roy, Chattanooga,

Knife crime in the UK is at the same level or lower than ten years ago.
The only change is the Media choosing it as the "crime de jour", thus creating a perception of this being something new.
The same Media demanded (& received) a ban on handguns in the UK after the Dunblane atrocity & to what end?

Mike S, Whitehaven, England

I think you're all being sucked in to the government controlled media's 'fear' agenda.

listen to yourselves...

we need to chip all the kids, more prisons, more rules, ban all the weapons, your neighbors are evil.

sounds to me like a totalitarian wet dream to me.

just a thought

tim lanigan, st annes, United Kingdom

i thought crime in the UK would go down drastically when all the guns were outlawed. now, it's knives. i guess next will
be bats and ax handles.
in case you haven't been listening, people kill people, and
use "things" to complete the act.
good luck.

Mark Strussenberg, Nevada, usa

The seed for this type of violence is set at an early age. Change the law so that younger people who commit crime fear legal punishment, not laugh at it!

Jay Johns, Glos, UK

This is old news; I don’t have to read the article to know what it is about and who the perpetrators are. Why has it taken so long for the authorities to sit up and take notice?

simon, exeter, england

There's a simple solution.

Make the penalty for carrying a knife the same as carrying a gun.

They are both deadly weapons.

I dare anyone to suggest I am wrong.

Chris, London,

the americans commenting on here are hilarious. we had 18 people die from gang related stabbings and you had over 10,000 people die from gun crime. how can you possibly even begin to tell us we have the faulty system.

alex, London, England

We have the same issue here in Canada's largest city, except with guns instead of knives. The common thread is the black male.

Greg, Toronto, Canada

I get annoyed when poverty and "nothing to do" is used as an excuse for murder. There is equality of opportunity in this country being stretched over an increasing population in line with the world and ease of travel. We don't know each other anymore. Social cohesion was built up over generations.

Elaine , Bristol, uk

How does one keep from becoming racist?

Annelise, Manchester,

The British and the French are beginning to understand what we in the US have always had to deal with.

Harry Walker, New Jersey, USA

The Americans commenting here should have a look at their own divided society rife with violence and murder, (albeit in ghettos) before casting stones.We in the western world are facing moral and monetary bankruptcy. Policies support big business over family and the individual and this harms kids

S Patel, Melbourne, , Australia

Leon Huddersfield,

Yes- unfortunately the army nowadays is simply made up of ex-builders, scaffolders and people with no GCSEs........

John Yead, Bristol, UK

I carried an sheath knife for 4 years as a Girl Guide. My parents wanted to raise a responsible adult and managed it.
This past generation have handed all power to children, which has led to them seeking rules on how to be happy and live well from peer groups and gang culture. Result... anarchy.

Heather Ludgate, London, UK

It's an insult to the members of the Army to suggest that the scoundrelous youth hanging around the streets are even WORTHY of a place alongside them! Are you trying to say the Army is a place for rejects or something!!?? Get a grip. Lets get them into the police force then, why not!!

LEON, huddersfield,

43% of all violent crime is being committed by just 2% of the population.

The same 2% of the population makes up 18% of the prison population.

65% of all black males of working age are either on the dole or in prison.

The facts speak for themselves. Targeted policing/harsh sentencing is req

Geetha Anand, Battersea, UK

Whist agreeing that the current gang culture, where carrying knives is seen as credible for many young people, is a serious problem for London ( in particular) I do hope it is not true that the police think this should take priorty over threatned terrorist attacks. There really is no comparison.

J.E.Poole, Romsey, UK

This is of no surprise..
We've had years of the liberal ruling elite, who are hell bent on abolishing normal discipline, Christian principles, respect, and the tradional M/F family unit. Inner city schools are run mainly run by Guardian reading women with the mantra of inclusivity, equality etc..

A.Gray, Orpington, U.K

"O My people! Their oppressors are children,
And women rule over them
My people! Those who guide you lead you astray
And confuse the direction of your paths."
Isaiah 3:12

Want to see your country healed? Start here: 2 Chronicles 7:14.

DR, TEXAS,

I was not allowed out in evenings until I was 15 and then went with a couple of friends to a Wimpy bar and shared a banana split returning on bus by about 10pm. There was TV, church disco a couple of times a year and a playing field. We never killed anyone nor want to - we accepted out lives.

muvva, Cambs,

This is what happens when people aren't allowed to defend themselves with guns. You need alot of training to use and phisically defend yourself against knife attacks. It's also practically against the Law in Britain to defend yourself. The people of Britain have themselves to blame for this.

Kevin Tipton, Chesterfield County, United States

Consider why today's kids are violent. There is nothing for most young people to get involved in. Teachers are too busy to run after school activities and sports teams and the government have allowed developers to build on playing fields. It is sad that they have nowhere to go, nothing to do

dc, doncaster, uk

"Moves to stop teenagers carrying weapons were not working ?" Oh, why ever not ? It can't be our gutter public morality, permissive laws, PC police and courts, undisciplined schools, broken families, or imported Third World standards, so I'm baffled.

Maybe we need more managers and quangos ?

I Green, London, England

Well, you disarm the people and what do you expect? In 1908 England, Scotland and Wales had no gun control and a very low crime rate. Of course they didn't have socialism then either. Americans fought and died for G.B. in two world wars. What a waste of fine young lives!

John Thayer, Winter Park, Florida, U.S.A.

Well, I see the situation in the UK is quite akin to the one we have in France... Politically-correct left-wing liberals are a definite plague, aren't they ? You can't justify such a violence, you fight it, that's all ! Good luck, Britannia !

Allancourt, Toulon, France

Would it be sensible to have a 9.30 pm curfew for all people under 16 unless they are with a parent or guardian
They might even get some homework done !

muvva, Cambs,

Those in the army often say: "we are a professional army and don't want people who don't want to be here."
But if you listen to soldiers you would hear that many of them are fed up, disillusioned and don't want to be there - many had nothing better to do.
There's no excuse - get them in the army!

JB, London, UK

If you leave school at 16 you have X months to find work otherwise into the into the army: divert dole funds to poverty stricken HM Forces.
This could be argued to be bias against the socially deprived, but its that segment of society whom the army 'encourages' (we don't recruit!) to join up anyway.

JB, London, UK

"yes the vast majority of gun crime is caused by immigrants from certain countries"

help me to find that evidence in the national statistics

T.Andre, London,

As usual New Labour and their pawns (Sir Ian Blair) do too little too late body count 18/20 (what is the total number of knife crimes?) and they waited this long!
Get some high grade people running the Country including the civil servants. Great they have all these degrees but how about experience

Andy Moore, Solihull, UK

The Police AND Courts have got to start taking the carrying of knives very very seriously. Instead of a slap on the wrist they should be imposing something like 6 months in the army so that these kids start growing up and get some discipline and belief into themselves.

Kev, London, UK

Electronically tag any families benefiting from state handouts !

Olivier, London,

i'm a frightened Caribbean mother with a teenage son & these kids need discipline, I agree with Ben Kinsella's sister, put them in the army and let them fight for their country. These kids also need something to occupy their time, they are bored & angry, Boris please open up some youth centres.

Carrie, london, England

Youth nowadays are fearless and heartless, they think they can do anything without concequences. Lets permanetly bring back conscription. If you're not going to stay in education or get a full-time job, get off the streets and join the armed forces. Put that bravery and fearlessness to good use!!!

Claire, London, England

Lock them up even if they are below 15 years, and make their parents take reposbilities, instead of us Taxpayers for their fault of parenting. This country has to spend money Juvenile detentions, when they reached the age of 18 , send them to a prison. Boot camp, no just caution, prison sentence

Irwin, London,

a single mother gets welfare and a free house...what the hell did the government expect to happen? of course this makes the situation worse and yes the vast majority of gun crime is caused by immigrants from certain countries trying to take advantage of our way too liberal welfare state.

alex, London, England

I'm pleased the Met finally noticed - it only took three years and a body count higher than the July 7 attack for them to make it a priority.

Graham, London, England

This problem is a direct response to Political Correctness over the last 10 years.

We have pandered to the wannabe ganster/yardie bad is good street culture and led those that believe in it to think they can get away with murder.

Fight fire with fire - win back respect for authority.

Leeroy Williams, London, Uk

Nadine,
Of course you're right; far too many Plods sitting in panda's reacting to reports, rather than Plods on the beat acting in a pro-active manner.
Someone should have a look at how the gangs form eg school, housing estates, youth centres etc and set up the monitoring and targeting of members.

Peter Hooper, Windsor, UK

A lot more money needs to be spent on youth training for skills and giving them careers to look forward to. Unfortunately the UK is nearly bankrupt having reached its tax and borrowing limit. So something will have to be cut to provide the huge amount of cash needed.

Colin, shrewsbury,

I do hope that many abroad reading these stories will not equate the London situation with the rest of the country. For most law abiding Britons, London is as foreign as Nigeria or Afghanistan. 10 years of Nu Labour's bashing the Met, multi culturalism and Ken Livingstone are the background.

Sparks, uk,

At my son's School, one boy repeatedly bullied the others and swore at Teachers. Finally this boy stabbed another boy at School one day & was expelled - if kids know they can get away with anything they will. We need to stop the woolly minded liberalism and punish them no matter what age.

Bernard, London, UK

The rate of murder by stabbing is five times greater in Scotaland than England

Race is not the issue here and those who push it have their own agenda.

Stephen Herlihy, Dursley, UK

I would like to comment on the "Black Elephant in the Room" statement. With regards to London that is probably the case, but once you go outside London statistics change, for example, in Glasgow, most of the knife crimes are conducted by white young men.

Shangits, London, UK

Get more police on the streets and adopt zero tolerance.

JJ, Cambs, England

In response to comments stating this as a problem caused by 'immigrants', the majority of misguided children who commit these crimes are British born!

It's about time that the Met put more resources into this problem. We need more police on the streets, policing should be proactive not reactive!

Nadine, London,

Chris, Ely who cares what colour or ethnic make up the criminals are, carrying a knife should have a mandatory sentence of no less than 5 years. While I agree that it is predominately an Afro-Caribbean perpetrator many are 3rd and 4th generation so this is home sendign them homes means London.

lloyd, London,

What we really need are foreigners, and ex pats especially, not telling us what to do.

Howard, Manchester,

What is missing in so many young lives is a focus and a purpose they do not realise the remifications of what they do for latter life or do they care? Maybe missing a father figure in their life ofr someone who can instill true respect for society.
Stronge parenting & disapline at school is missing

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

The only area where we can do anything is in schools, where kids with problems can be identified and helped. We can't change parents. Once the crime has been committed it's too late. We need small class sizes and social workers in schools.

Martyn, London, UK

David in Devon, correct you cannot ban knives but you can ban the carrying of knives. The psycho babble of removing the cause has not worked in the USA, Brazil, Canada or Caribbean. Tough laws and even tougher sentences for knife carrying cowards will remove the knives.

lloyd, London,

I totally agree with every comment that lack of discipline and respect in bringing up children is to blame,coupled with the free handouts to every deadbeat who applies.Don't profess to have the answer but we must start with draconian sentences for just carrying a weapon eg 15 years. with NO parole.

John Logue, Christchurch, New Zealand

Sorry but you can't ban knives. You must look at the underlying reason - the justification - as to why this generation wants to carry knives.

Remove the reason and the knives will dissapear like magic.

David in Devon, Devon, devon

"One part of the answer (not the whole of it) is to deport each an every immigrant caught carrying a knife."
Chris, Ely, England

Typical racist BNP facism; what about the 57% of non-black people who commit violent crime- will u deport them? You can't deport British citizens, regardless of race.

Piers, Birmingham, United Kingdom

The rate of deaths from stabbings is 5 times higher in Scotland than in England . Those who talk about it being an immigration issue are wrong and using it to push their own agenda

Colour is not the issue. It's undisciplined , unguided kids

stephen herlihy, Bristol,

It's of little use just charging these thugs, there actions are extreme and to solve the problem authority has to be equally extreme.
Let it be known, and seen to be actioned, that anyone found with a knife will be imprisoned for 10 years. Better that they should suffer than someone lose their life.

R W, Guildford, uk

Um, so 18 murders. Um... That's not a huge number. It's not even statistically significant. So why all the hysteria? This seems an overheated, histrionic debate in which proportion and reason have taken a shower.

Matt, London,

what do you expect - results of years of liberal multi-ethnic, diversity pandering - its going to get a whole lot worse

martin , slough,

give up and migrate to australia! we aren't that bad yet and we need people with skills. the weathers better as well and we're not bad at cricket and rugby either

peter, gold coast, australia

A national strategy to seed Christian revival will change things amongst the kids and teens.
What happens during Christian revival?
People change when they give their lives to Jesus Christ and crime slows to acceptable levels.

G.Gibson, Sydney, Australia

The black elephant is in the room. 43% of all violent crime is committed by the Afro-Caribbean population. One part of the answer (not the whole of it) is to deport each an every immigrant caught carrying a knife.

Chris, Ely, England

The courts need to help us, after all, it is the tax payers who subsidise the judges warped interpretation of the laws. Maybe people didnt carry knives intheir days.

Julian Hutchings, Bath, UK

Yes, Mr Armstrong from the US is spot on. The Poms need a Second Amendment which provides an inaliable right to carry weapons. Then they can live in a society where military doctors study gunshot wounds not on the front line, but in the emergency departments of Chicago and Washington DC. Lovely.

Brett Guerin, Melbourne, Australia

We need to BUILD MORE PRISONS.

Where are all these knife offenders going to be housed if the judiciary are to give them stiffer sentences!

You can't get around the problem that cell space is determining sentencing !

Richard, Manchester,

Y'all need a Second Amendment . . .

Russ Armstrong, Becker, MN, US of A

You mean to tell me that they are incapable of handling two nasties at the same time? That sounds like President Ford who couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

M Wilson, Bidache, france

I agree with William.

Roger Ferguson, Prenton,

I think that the problem is not only that the state is soft on crime. There is too much hopelessness, unhappiness and simply boredom among the youth in inner city areas. I do not think we have done enough to change this.

Yakov Sher, London, England

Thats right michael thronton, a western version of sharia-law will eventually be needed. Instead of cutting of their hands, we'll just give them a slap on the hand.

jayil, london, uk

“It would be wholly wrong if the Met had not responded to the further dreadful murders that have happened this week"

It is wholly wrong that for years the Met did not respond to numerous such dreadful murders.

Sue, London, UK

Today a child knows its rights so much that a parent can not discipline their own child anymore for fear of child abuse charges against them. so whose to blame? Every parent wants to teach their child all the right things not the bad ones.

Junette, london

junette , london , UK

Here would be a fantastic opprtunity to combine sharia law and teenage murderes. Yes, that's right, murderes! Not misunderstood youth. They know it's wrong, yet they have no problem to commit these attrocities at accelerating speed. Why, you wonder? It's very simple: there's no punishment to fear.

michael thronton, chicago,

The statistics are far too intriguing to pass without comment.

1200 arrests. Approx people 1140 charged. 500 knives seized.

What about the other 600-odd? Did they get their knives back or were they charged with something else?

Simon, London,

The increasing knife violence among teenagers on our streets is a result of a failed ultra liberal immigration policy. Who are these children that kill other children, where are they from, what is their social background, what is the predominant trend? Fix that at the root and you fix the problem.

Alex McHugh, Edinburgh, Scotland

Until the courts give serious sentences, the problem will never be tackled. You can 'talk' to the people carrying knives all you want, but it does not work.

Arthur, Newcastle,

Have a kid on welfare and get a free flat. That's the reason why, in many inner city areas, there are young women in large numbers at the Job Centres. The resulting child is just a by-product of getting on the housing ladder.

John, London,

I agree with you, William. But I feel that the influence of television, much of it American, is pernicious. Programs inculcate violence, the cult of the individual and revenge. What TV cannot do is transmit moral sense or community solidarity. Make sure your child is not in front of a TV all day.

John, London, SE, UK

I think it is time for self defence lessons to be made compulsory in our schools.

caroline, London, UK

How much is too much, when it comes to spending on resources to combat London's rising crime rate?
Clearly whatever is presently being spent is insufficient. I would say improvements are a priority.

Adam, Oxford,

The reality is real crime impacts on far more people than the bogey man of terrorism that has been used to beat down free speech and civil liberties by the Labour government over the last 10 years. We would be in a better state had the money wasted on Iraq and Afghanistan on UK crime prevention.

Bruce Mcaaw, Grantham,

I believe over the past 6 years we have been so obsessed with "Muslims and Islam" that we have broken our own society. We neglected our own values, gave up our freedoms and lost moral high ground. Great Britain is not so great in 21st century. We must alter this course and welcome everyone's input.

Kim, Manchester, Britain

Well the Met should deal with the here and now as opposed to the what if's of terror. We are a resistant nation as far as terroists are concerned and would hope we would never be govened by the paranoa 9/11 infilicted on the US priority should be to give kids stability at an early age and Family Law

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

The lunatics have taken over the asylum. Youngsters (children in the old days) have been treated as adults for too long. They know their 'rights'; they know there is no detererent or proper punishment; they watch too many Mafia movies and want to be 'made men' - the list goes on.

June O'Brien, London, England

You can put knives, guns and clubs in front of a good child all day and he wont pick it up and kill. We have let the nanny state dictate how we are to teach our children, and made it ok to do anything wit no moral upbringing at all. PC Neo-Leftest feel good policies have turned out kids into animals

William, Atlanta, USA