Look at the parents who are angry when they are called to the police station after their children have been caught doing something bad. They resent the police for disrupting their lives rather than feel shame for what their offspring has done. With selfish parents like this we deserve what we get.

Chris, UK,

Oh yes lets see how long it takes for them to start filming these trips to the hospital and uploading them on youtube.
Way to go New Labour, you've presented them with a new alternative to happy slapping!

Matt, Birmingham, WestMids

I think that enforcing a curfew would be difficult though it can be done with enough willpower from the goverment. Who's to say, however, that this won't spawn more domestic violence between parents and children.

Billum, Edmonton,

So, a curfew on childen? - when will the adult curfew come in? And what next? Start learning Dutch ladies and gentlement, the UK police state is upon us.

Max, Birmingham,

It should be the parents that impose and enforce the curfew on their own children. Obviously they stopped doing that for some reason. Government will never be able to enforce a national (or regional) curfew. Packs of under-10s carrying bread knives will be roaming the streets before long.

Erwin, London, UK

Curfew's aren't ideal, but unfortunately maybe necessary to reinstate a bit of structure around the lives of many young people. These kids should be at home at these times anyway - whether they are badly behaved or not. Put the curfews in until it has become normal for kids to be home - then see!

Gemma, Notts,

Thomas - you clearly live in a different culture - give me one good reason an inner city kid in the UK needs a knife? We are not scared of people with knives persay - we are worried about kids with no respect for human life, who are angry at everyone carrying them around & stabbing innocent people.

Gemma, Notts,

Callum - you might not have done anything wrong - but don't you want a decent society to live in for the future? Sometimes you need to try to see the bigger picture - teenagers like you have been killed, & we need to find ways to stop it happening. We all might have to make to sacrifices to do that!

Gemma, Notts,

Well Mark - what is your suggestion? This is not fear inducing - it's called facing up to a problem! Many parents don't control their kids, & don't know where they are at night, & the kids are then getting involved in things they shouldn't - then they are off down that path. Drastic action is needed

Gemma, Notts,

Also Callum - they are only suggesting temporary curfews for certain areas, when required - it's not going to be a lifetime curfew across the country!!! So no need to panic! This could start to help lots of kids to regain a bit of structure and normality, and protect many more.

Gemma, Notts,

I think that a curfew is an excellent idea. When I was growing up in Hamilton Scotland there was a curfew brought in for under 16s. Police only really split up large groups of children who looked like they may cause trouble. It allowed them to act before trouble took place

J McGuire, Madrid, Spain

What a fear-induce, misjudged reaction. Smacks of middle-England reading their daily mail & wanting to lock all their problems up in the basement, rather than dealing with them.

For shame

mark , London, uk

It's a shame we have to consider curfews. If parents managed their childen better and were concerned about where they are at night and what they do, it wouldn't be necessary. Young teenagers shouldn't be out after dark. A bit of quality family time wouldn't go amiss.

Rado, Bexleyheath, UK

One day England will have to decide whether it's English or Arabic. When immigration causes national disorder and jeopardizes your own national security then immigration reform and deportation laws should be amended. I always liked Europe because of its strong since of heritage.

Richard Hellstrom, Lexington, USA

Unfortunately the UK is beyond repair. We've been too soft for far too long to consider anything radical enough to make a difference.

Only options if you can afford it is to move to a better area / county or better still, country.

Ian, Shrewsbury, UK

Thank goodness the government takes disorder on the streets so seriously and are employing 1000's of Police Community Support Officers. Who needs police officers when you have PCSO's to protect you.

MARTIN, READING,

Yes you can have law that responds when required. How about lock down anytime there is an incident like the one in Croydon. Large police presence and curfew an area until yobs get the message that hitting policemen is not tolerated.

Gareth, Croydon, UK

A proposed national ID database... the highest number of CCTV cameras in the world... and now curfews?! Does anyone else not like th look of where this is going?

sam, Farnham, UK

I had a curfew until the time I left home - decided by my parents. Took it for granted. Never bothered me.

sarah, france, france

What is a child under 10 doing 'on the streets' at 8 or 9pm?

sarah, france, france

Yesterday David Aaronovitch in his Times column seemed to say reports of knife crime were exaggerated - does he read the Times?

Janice, Witney, UK

This curfew idea is ridiculous! If someone wanted to pose an attack it could be anywhere! They could go to a quiet place during the day! What are we to do then? Stop teens going out all the time? Place a tag on every teen? No! Create more places of leisure at night! Relocate security?

j, leic, uk

Civil Britain has lost the war against crime. The slow retreat began when Labour ascended to power. Their clear tactic was demanding that the public understand the criminal, not prosecuting and punishing him with harshness commensurate with the offence. A pox on their house!

Dennis Eagan, Colorado Springs,

We must ban the sale of hooded clothing. Thugs rely on the hoods to conceal their faces.

Avery Jones, Swindon, UK

i live in dubai, the crime rate here is so low the worst thing you hear of is a car accident, yet i ve been in london for 4 weeks and already heard 7 murders and countless stabbing. the solution here is simple make harsher laws which actually punish criminals harshly so as to maje examples of them

eugene, jumeriah beach, uae

Last week my 15 year old son was out after dark with two friends. A police officer drew up beside them and politely asked: "Do you mind if I give you a ride home because you're freaking out the neighbors?"

Their crime? They were walking home.

Do you really want England to end up like this?

Tolodony, San Jose, California, USA

Wouldn't that mean that the bulk of these crimes would just move into the day time?

The source of the problem is whatever is causing these people to care so little about another's life.

Jack, Richmond, VA

What about new years eve??? Me and my friends always go outside on the bells to shout and scream and have fun. It's the one night of the year my parents don't mind me getting drunk and I still don't get hammered why am I be punished for doing nothing wrong.This simply makes me more angry.

Callum McBrearty, Bromley, England

I don't know about UK... how scared to death people are of someone with a knife In some English speaking countries it's perfectly OK to carry a handgun on an airport (Georgia, US)

But I carry a knife with me nearly always, and i've yet to kill anyone with it, mention tons of casings & a few fish

Thomas Strandberg, Vancouver, Canada

Knife carying should mean prison and a fine for parents if he/she is under 16.
But this really is a product of the single parent society where family is no longer strong enough or able to discipline wayward youngsters, but i think a curfew is another step to a police state that should be resisted.

John Lewis, London, UK

If young men have no Father figure then we can not be surprised at the current situation. Pregnancy by license is the only answer. That means if you don't meet the adoption rule criteria your unplanned baby will be adopted out and you get no benefits. It's fair on children and society.

J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom

Longer sentencing in tough gaols and I don't mean gaols that allow computers, gyms, tv and suchlike. A tougher program must be introduced for these thugs to toe the line. They must be made to attend education programs and do menial tasks from dawn to dusk. More money must be put into prisons.

G.A.GILMARTIN , Bristol, U.K.

Giving cold blooded killers the chance to gloat over their victims - yet another travesty of justice UK.

Sue Doughty, Twyford, UK

These measures are defeatist and cowardly. Visits to A&E wards presupposes that there will be a continued conveyor of victims to inspect, in other words, that knife crime will continue unabated. Gordon Brown’s refusal to punish criminals sends a clear signal "carry on".

Peter Mc, Twickenham,

what about young kids who work past 8pm?

i started working when i was 15 and i never got out of work before 8pm. would that be allowed or would the kids get ticketed or stopped?

tyler, seattle, united states

And when this doesn't work will the government resign? This is a left-wing, wishy-washy solution which will not work.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Why should stab victims be made to face their attacker? Haven't they suffered enough already? Those that survive may well be in court anyway as witnesses, but why put them through it again? As usual, all about the perpetrator, not the victim.

Patricia, Nantwich,

The last person i would want to see if i was in hospital having been stabbed by some yardie wannabe is another yardie wannabe being escorted in by the police to see my wounds.

The hoodies in my area walk with extra swagger now that they know everyone is even more scared of them.

James, London,

Why is anyone surprised? I moved into north London from the Netherlands 3 months ago and have witnessed daily explosions of anger in shops where mothers scream at their kids, on buses where the drivers and other passengers are routinely abused, on the street. This is a violent and disturbed society.

Richard Boyd, London, UK

Making offenders visit their victims in hospital is possibly the most ineffectual, pathetic excuse for justice I've ever heard. Ideas like this and implementing curfews are not real solutions. Increasing the number of police on the street and custodial sentences are the only way to go.

Mark, New York (expat), USA

"“The police, as well as judges and community leaders, don’t want every single young person found carrying a knife jailed"

Community leaders - who votes for them? It really is in poor taste the way members of government in a supposedly democratic country listen to these self appointed charlatans.

Alex, London,

What is simplistic and naive is to believe that knife crime can be solved by touchy feely initatives like visiting victims in hospital, If I was recovering in a hospital bed from a stab wound I would have enough to worry about with MRSA yet alone a visit from the yob who stabbed me.

Martin, Tenerife, Spain

Haven't the victims suffered enough without imposing a further onslaught by exposing them to the uncaring and indifferent protagonists of the crimes to which they were subjected?

How can anyone be so insensitive as to suggest this?!

Richard, Alicante, Spain

This government cannot commit to prison sentences - they have failed to provide sufficient places in prisons.

Time to re-think.

Real community service (nasty, hard, dirty work) for those who pose no threat

Real prison (nasty, hard discipline) for knife offenders

Before they move to guns

Roger Bingham, Lauzun, France

It is simplistic and wrong to pretend that prison is an easy answer to all of society’s problems,”.

In other words, we don't have enough Prision space to accommodate all the little thugs that would be sent down.
But she does'nt have to worry does she, she has her "Bodyguards" .

Roger, Newcastle - upon - Tyne,

ANYTHING, but build prisons.

ronnie, bucks, UK

Curfew ?

Punish all kids for the actions of a tiny minority ? Ludicrous, an admission of failure in fact.

Stan ex-London, USA, USA

Make camps where all violent criminals have to literally sweat the violence out of their bodies. If they don't work hard enough or are difficult to deal with, no food that day. Make them know that they are expendable.

John, Reading,

Bring back the birch.

HC, LONDON,

Im a teenager and how is it right that i must be punished for the actions of a few?!
I have never stolen or gotten into trouble with the law yet i should be treated like one of those thugs when i have to be subjected to a curfew?
Absolutely not. I would never comply with such rubbish.

Laila.

Laila, London,

This problem has been "imported" by virtually unrestricted and indiscriminate immigration particularly from the Caribbean where gang knife & gun crime has been endemic for decades. Those who have argued this case have largely been ignored, censored or stupidly labelled as "racist". Now we pay!

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

The response to a major problem of knifing on our streets by the Home Secretary Jaqui Smith was entirely predictable. There is no political will to grasp this very serious growing culture by anyone in the house, whether New Labour or Tory. The piecemeal suggestions for resolution beggar belief.

Colin Castling, Abingdon, UK

Since methods to sort out problems such as this are seemingly insurmountable given the rights that everyone has these days I am forced to conclude that either one can live in a private ghetto, or emigrate to where pandering to the lowest common denominator does not dominate political thinking.

Richard, London, England

What a joke. - Britain needs to build more prisons, remove prison luxury life, and lock these people up for years. Ok it might not rehabilitate them but in reality nothing will. At least they would not be on the streets for others to suffer from their actions. Forget Iraq take care of the UK.

John Hickman, Bangkok ( temporarily ) , Thailand

This government is on its last legs and as such does not really care about the knife carrying class. Jacqui Smith was scared to go out in her community, echoing the feelings of many young people. The difference is Mrs Smith can bring out a policeman, the young people bring out a small knife.

Matt Evans, London, UK

I watched Ms Smith on the TV news being interviewed about this matter and each question was met with a completely unrelated reply containing waffle and hypothesis. It's like they're throwing darts at a postage stamp 20 feet away and hoping to strike it lucky.

John , Chichester, Chichester, UK

Total nonsence-confronting the victims would do nothing. They have already seen their victims bleed (some to death). Not only should they be imprisoned, but also made to work (preferably hard) for their prison meals. None of the sewing of post office bags lark.

katja, Paphos, Cyprus

stabbing someone is attempted MURDER. these kids do not get the seriousness of the crime and right now we are on course to having possession of weed as a more serious offense. how did this government allow the UK to get this way? surely any educated person can see how surreal this truly this!

Alex, London, England

She says its"simplistic and wrong to pretend that prison is an easy answer to all of societies problems".Firstly I say "Who's pretending ,this is no time to pretend ,and we're not talking of all societies problems we are trying to solve the problem of vicious killers loose on our streets

Gordon Lonsdale , Northampton, uk

Asking pubs to frisk people for knives? Do they have special powers to check for knives or does everyone have this?

There is probably a reason why people are arming themselves. They don't fear their own knife or the law, they fear other people who may hurt them. They want to be strong.

Wayland, Braintree, Essex

Time for Jacqui Smith to issue the public with stab vests. We can't all borrow one from the Met every time we go out for a kebab!

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

How about a Human responsibilities Act - the yobs may know their rights but there needs to be a balance

Tom Honeyman, Aultbea, Scotland

Only one way to enforce this, take the parents benefits away if they dont comply, theyll sharp sit up and take notice then.

debra steadman, Leicester, UK

Thats not the answer. It would be unfair on the decent element of youth who want to go out and have fun. I believe as soon as they are caught on CCTV they should be thrown in a small cell for 12 hours and then charged 500£ release fee. If they cant pay they can clean the streets

john, BATH,

Can you imagine the reaction to a curfew? Hundreds of teenagers demonstrating after curfew? Who is going to arrest them al? One big problem in UK, is that there is no central reserve on the lines of the CRS in France or the US National Guard. UK has nothing between the Police and the Army .

David Chown, bath,

Our both children played rugby cricket and both were in representitive sides that ment they would not be home untill maybe midnight some nights,

David Edward Gerrard, Kyrenia, Cyprus

its all about fear, and sex,

donald duck, yahoo,

Shouldn't good parents be imposing a curfew in any event? I couldn't come back home whenever I liked without risking the wrath of my mother. Why don't parents know where their kids are?

jo, london, uk

Britain has to do something RADICAL and soon, this maybe a solution, test it for a while and see, during the week-days only maybe. My thinking is BOOT CAMPS and bring back National Service, believe me this will help alot and also increase the punishments, all action is needed, DO IT NOW!

Mike, London, UK

Totally unenforceable.

The police would have to prove that any child stopped by them outside of curfew hours was 16 or younger. Since invariably children that age don't carry driving licences, to make the scheme workable, it presupposes some sort of ID card. And that's a beehive for another day.

Sam Roberts, London,

Shouldn't all these visits and education occur BEFORE the crime has happened?

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

is this the best they can come up with? what use do they think this will do? another useless initiative. why can't they understand these thugs don't give a damn about anybody. lock them up for 5yrs for carrying 10yrs for using

Phil Barnes, preston, england

Bring back National Service but the starting age to be 15.
Three years of military discipline combined with strict and enforced education away from their home area and the rest of society might just tip the balance in producing decent members of society.

P Barrett, Valletta, Malta

Anyone else get the impression Jacqui Smith is well out of her depth? Along with Gordon she is sinking fast!

G, Worcester,

What a fantastically well thought out idea from the muppets in ‘government”.

After having experienced the physical and psychological trauma of being stabbed, victims now have the added indignity of violent offenders traipsing past their hospital beds.

Way to go Jacqui.

George, Leamington, England

Jaqui Smith and Enver Solomon are simplistic. Knife carrying may have complex causes. However, the choice is: Allow 20 deaths a month (or is it a week at the moment) whilst an analysis of these complex causes is undertaken, or shock knife carriers out of this habit by jailing a few of their friends.

Ian, Petersfield, UK

One word describes this policy. PATHETIC

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

I do not even understand why knives are being sold. Are the shops that sell guns required to do a security check on the person wanting to purchase a knife? If not, why not?

Deborah Rea, Derby, UK

my wife and I live in a rough area , we never venture out after dark , we use the car to go everywhere with the door locks on and only get out at carparks in supermarkets.

thank you New Labour for giving us such a nice society to live in.

mick K, newcastle, uk

This idea sounds daft as a chocolate teapot. If a youngster carries a weapon for fear of being attacked then seeing people who have been injured will reinforce that fear.
If on the other hand the youngster is likely to initiate an attack then they are unlikely to be bothered by seeing knife victim

Morgan, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Jacqui Smith as usual finds it hard to keep up with public feeling and lacks the intellectual capacity to lead the Home Office. She is parading a range PR tricks that lack any serious credibility, and trying to shot the proverbial door after the horse has long bolted.

Richard K, Nottingham,

This is utter nonsense to take knife crime criminals to confront the victims. That would NOT deter these low life morons. The solution is tough policing. Give the police power to stop & search youngsters hanging out. Have 9 pm curfew for under 18's. Anyone found with a knife to get automatic jail

Faqi, London, UK

Save us from Ms Smith. Does she think knife users will be shocked to see what knives do ? They know already dear !
So she will gratify their fantasies, put them centre-stage with lots of the attention that they like ... Then what ???

Sean, Coventry, UK

Just imagine being the victim of a knife crime then the attacker comes around the hospital to gloat at you, must be a politicians idea.

Peter Fordham, Pego, Spain

UK KNIFE CRIME

I think it may be one reason
That knife crime now is rife
The kids all play computer games
That kill and Zap and Strike
They chose their weapons
Then destroy
All who get in their way
If we controlled these games much more
Perhaps they would not play
So easily with guns and knives and translate these
To their REAL LIVES ?

Oz Mar
Andorra
UK knife crime-5 killed in 24 hours
July 2008

Oz Mar, Andorra, Andorra

Haven't they suffered enough?

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Why don't public figures just shut up?
We had Sir Ian Blair saying yesterday: "I want to reassure the public we're doing everything possible to get knives off the streets." Given all the deaths, it is clear his "everything" is useless.
Then Jacqui Smith pipes up as Home Seckerterry - with nothing.

Padraig, Perth, Australia

What the hell is a "community leader" and if they are real who do they purport to represent. If community leaders actually existed they would surely have some influence over their communities and might actually be able to prevent some of these crimes from occurring.

Chris, Geoje Island, South Korea

A word in defense of the knife carriers and in some cases in defence of the knife users. The English always say:"push us too far and you will get vigilantees". Well, here we are: with an inept police force and clueless courts, armed youths become the law, settle scores, and feel safe on the streets

Cobin Rain, Hay on Wye, Wales

the Home Secretary has rejected calls for offenders to be given custodial sentences and instead suggested they visit hospitals to be confronted by people injured in attacks.

WOW!! Thats really going to make them think twice about taking a knife out.
This goverment is pathetic and has to go.

Mike Jones, Farnborough, Hampshire

This borders on surrealism. Anyone with a working knowledge of the behavioral sciences knows that annecdotal ideation: "sounds good to me", is just plain incompetent. Does your government want to solve problems? If so they need to scrap all of the wishful thinking and get down to reality.

Lawrence Seman, Broadview Heights, USA

This initiative is absolutely shocking. Carrying a knife is a crime and stabbing someone a very serious crime. Crime will eventually be worse than it is now, it will escalate. Please someone save us from these idiots in Government.

Kate G, London, United Kingdom

I carry a knife pretty much all the time. It's a craft knife I keep in my pencil case for sharpening pencils. I'm rather concerned that the conservatives are planning to make this a prisonable offense. Will carrying a pen-knife get you locked up too?

David Steel, Edinburgh,

" Home Secretary has rejected calls for offenders to be given custodial sentences and instead suggested they visit hospitals to be confronted by people injured in attacks"

Wow, for a moment I thought the government was going be really mean and send the young scamps to bed without any supper

Jon, London,

One more stupid policy
Way to stop crime in 6 months is:
- make jails in Africa
- anyone with knife/gun gets min 5 years
- wounding min 10 years
- killing min 15 years
- prisoners should build roads in host country
- upkeep will cost £20 per day and not £800 p/p as it is now
Not fair for criminals?

savo, london, uk

The reason there are so many knife crimes, is because they know they won't goto jail! Send them to jail and let them rot!

Arthur, Newcastle,

It is time to forget the dogooders and fetch back corpral punishment.
Allow parents the right to chastise their own children again.
We have tried the softly softly path and it has only brought a total lack of respect amoungst a lot of youths today.
"Ye sow as ye shall reap"

robert, Blackburn, England

Great so you're lying in hospital with stab wounds and the police bring a group of thugs who carry knives to visit you... This is a joke right? please, please tell us they are not serious.

jack, chelmsford,

The problem started 11 years ago when Nulaber removed the authority of head teachers to establish discipline in schools.

Today's 16 year-olds have spent their entire school lives learning that they can get away with anything.

Well done, Bliar and Brown. Phase 1 of "ruin the UK" is a 100% success.

Jon Leigh, Safely out of it in Rural, France

Another cop out from an inept Home Secretary. It will not work. The only way to stop people carrying knives or guns is to threaten them with imprisonment for a minimum of 5 years. You either follow the law because you love and respect it or because you are scared of the consequences of breaking it.

J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom

Look back to 1950 era

Lord Carmont cleaned up comparable problems, but not
resulting in Murder, in most cases.

Peter O'Hara, Toronto, Canada

Yes, like I would love to be recovering from stab wounds in a hospital bed to be confronted by the type of young criminal who had stabbed someone else out on a pastoral care trip about which he'd be joking to his mates later.

Does the VICTIM have any say in this?

David B, Brussels,

Ridiculous on two grounds

1) some of those who carry knives will say "that's cool, I could do that sort of damage"

2) has anybody asked the stab victims if they want if they want potential aggressors gloating over them

clive, Surrey,

These are very childish and unintelligent ways of tackling crime. Discipline in schools and tougher sentencing are more inteklligent ways nipping crimes in the bud and deterring young people from committing crimes. Lets not give the impression that Britain lacks intelligent people in leadership

Ezhi Opfu, London, UK

What an incredibly stupid idea! Youngsters caught carrying knives should be PUNISHED, not whinged at. The punishment needs to be seriously unpleasant and shaming to overcome negative peer pressure. And ideally, followed by prison until they have learned to read and learned a trade.

Ross, Bristol,

Pathetic. Only the elitist self-entitled 'New Labour' could come up with such an utterly useless scheme. Tough on crime? Ridiculous!

Mark, Deal , Kent

Holy cow. Britain's solution for knife crime (attempted murder as we call it in the US) is to make the offenders witness victims in the hospital? Yeesh. Why don't you mandate that the offenders get great big hugs from the judges while you're at it? After all, these are just misguided youths.

Martin, Atlanta, US

What planet does the Home Secretary come from? Does she seriously think taking knife carrying thickos to hpsital to see their victims is going to make them change their ways? Dear God how on earth did the country ever end up with a person such as this in Government!

Bergman Coffey, Belfast,

Yet another example of weak government. Minimum 5 year tariffs for non-mitigated possession would sort it all out.

Stuart, Sheffield, UK

Chop off their hands .... no repeat offence possible.

david smith, perth, australia

The Home Sec. first tells us that knife crime is no worse than before, even though there are more murders, serious injuries, and threats involving knife crimes than ever. Then because things are 'no worse than before' she comes up with the knee jerk reaction to media concerns. What a govt. shower!!!

Davey, Hornchurch Essex, UK

Yet another ridiculous initiative by the Home Secretary! What people want is justice to be seen and felt to be done. Stop these silly initiatives. Make the killers pay the price of their crime. Protect the innocent and law abiding citizens.

P Davis, manchester,

Wow, another not softly-softly in the slightest crackdown. I'm sure young don't-give-a hoodlums will be quaking at the thought of revisitng the fruits of their previous labours.

Talking about "previous labour" can we have an election to get rid of these wrist-slapping, PC clowns, please?

Andy

Andy Myles, Edinburgh,

Labour stoop to new lows and continue to let down the law abiding citizen. The lastest is if you stab somebody you will not face a custodial sentenance. PATHETIC BUNCH OF $%&££!*% There ignorance of what is happening just makes so angry. How many more have to die because this rubbish government.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

For heavens sake - lock them up. It should be a mandatory jail sentence for knife crime of at least 7 years and no parole.
When will this stupid government ever learn.

Gavin, Cambridge,

Has anyone thought to ask the victims about this???

Russ, Benfleet, England

Not a single line about locking these thugs and murderers up.
Was this all the weekends brainstorming could come up with. Pathetic .

Build more prisons and take them from society for a very long time . They have no prospect of a life outside prison , they will just reoffend. Collateral damage ?

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield, England

Custodial sentences. What rubbish. Send them on holiday to the Caribbean to a 5 star hotel with everything found. That'll teach them!!! Let's be politically correct about this.

Richard, Alicante, Spain

The psychology employed is that of the adult non-wielder of knives -- it doesn't reflect the way young thugs feel.
I've had youths who were car drivers involved in accidents that killed their school friends. Their admiring colleagues show the photographs of the crash, and he's the surviving hero.

M Clement Hall, Guelph, Canada

Th media and the Government play the hypocrisiy game : focussing on knife crime, which has unfortunately always been part of our urban society, demonising young people in the process, whilst ignoring the greater crimes for which all UK Taxpayers are liable : Illegal Wars of Aggression and Genocide

corneilius, Harrow, UK

WOW! ........... Well done Mr Home Secretary. Having to face the victims is such a wonderful deterent! NOT! . . . . .Does anyone know what planet our ministers are from? Unless they get real and fast and also get very hard on Murderers with knifes we are going to see a lot more deaths.

Rob, Welwyn Garden City, UK

This is a land fit for criminals.

"Crime action plan" ...........how many more years does Zanu_labour need?

ronnie, bucks, UK

Call me old fashioned if you like..............How do you say sorry to a dead person ?

mark Hulton, Stoke on Trent,

kids will never learn from this hand holdind psycho babble, take offenders to guantanamo bay, give them floggings until they realise that life isn't cheap and should be respected and its in physical and mental humilation and that people realise that life is bigger than their vices and grow up.

casey grant, wales, uk

The stabbers are on a roll now. This could all have been avoided a long time ago. The government's shock tactics are a nonsense. Capital punishment would halt this in its tracks.

David, Bromley,

kids will never learn from this hand holdind psycho babble, take offenders to guantanamo bay, give them floggings until they realise that life isn't cheap and should be respected and its in physical and mental humilation and that people realise that life is bigger than their vices and grow up.

casey gramt, wales, uk

Great. This is based on moral. What the government doesn't understand is that these kids have no morals, they don't care.

Time for Boot Camp. The only way to change these kids is to give them some respect. Prison is a waste of time, discipline is what they need.

Phil, Warrington, England

Yet another well thought out idea from the Home Office. Having undergone the trauma of being stabbed and finding oneself at the local A & E what better way to while away the time awaiting treatment than to be confronted with knife-carrying youngsters hauled in off the streets. Cheap publicity stunt!

George, Stanton Hill, Notts, UK

Can you imagine how traumatic this silly idea would be for the victim?
It is bad enough that they were stabbed without coming face to face with their attacker.
This Government are really the most incompetent in living memory full of half baked ideas.

Stephen Holmes, Withington, UK

If I do get stabbed do I have to meet some stabbers? I wouldn't want to infringe on their human rights or anything, but if its OK, I'd really rather not. Sorry to be a pain.

Simon, Cambs, UK

Does this woman not realize that it is such weak-kneed thinking that is responsible for this problem arising in the first place?

Younger people today have no fear of the law. It is this attitude that has to be changed and you will only achieve that by making the law something to be afraid of.

Richard Crow , Warsaw, Poland

Is it only me who thinks that is is crazy that victims should have to confront the sort of people who attacked them in the first place?

Dan, Winchester, England

I would like to publicly congratulate Jacqui Smith on the dramatic reduction we have seen in violent crime following the ban on 'samurai' swords coming into effect in April. Never have the streets of the UK been safer. Way to go Jacqui!

Anthony Brown, Preston, UK

The Daily Telegraph last week reported that North Koreans shot dead tourists. (How depraved can you get?)

Now, The Times warns us that offenders will face stab victims. (Ouch!)

Is this the fruit of a generation of comprehensive education, or just a new technique for attracting readers' attention?

Albert, Paris,

Fear is the best deterrent, the Americans must be reading about London and shaking their heads in disbelief.
Americans bang up criminals. We give offenders short stays in holiday camps with Sky TV, gyms etc.

We should wear T-shirts saying "Don't Stab People."

Prisons are full, says it all.

Graham, St. Albans, uk

There used to be a concept of "prevalent offences". Once declared the judicial system could react accordingly. I'm not a bang 'em up throw away the key freak but can't imagine young tearaways being deterred by the "threat" of having to go to an A&E. They are more likely to laugh and say 'yer wot!

Terry, Chichester, UK

If thats the best Jacqui Smith can come up with then she should have stayed in bed- PATHETIC!

dave, london, uk

Seiously, if you stab someone, you either do it to scar or kill, these kids will probably get off on seeing the damage they have done.

Adam Stephen, Liverpool, UK

I address this comment to the Times. What do these young people have to say. When they are told that their victim has died. Is it that it was not their intention to kill? What was in their mind at the time?

David Duckworth, LUTON,

I'm sure being forced to face their victims will make knife wielding thugs think twice about carving up innocent bystanders. What is this Government on?? We do need to criminalise criminals even if we have to build more jails!

Tara, London, UK

...and how exactly can an offender face a victim who is dead? I suggest Mrs Smith and the government take a strong course of reality pills and wake up.

Blue, ST. IVES, United Kingdom

I fully support a curfew. It was my own first instinct towards a potential solution for this. That, and metal detectors for parents to keep in the home. We need to take responsibility for supervising our young people. To protect them, and to protect others. The idea of ward visits is ridiculous.

Blue, ST. IVES, United Kingdom

This may be counterproductive - having seen what a knife can do the child may be tempted to buy a extra one incase they are attacked themselves. The motive of any weapons system is primarily defence, deterent & to display status. Is this the kind of lunacy that turned the Etruscans into Romans?

kevin, Lincoln, UK

By the comments on this article, Brown didn't consult any Times readers, did he?
Just who do these buffoons listen too?

The criminal Justice System needs an URGENT review and NOW.

Defence solicitors,don't forget them, they must share some if not all the blame! While creaming tax payers money!

Shaun, Newcastle, Tyneside

Great Britiain = slave nation. "Please sir, can we have some more chains?"

Nationwide children's curfew? NOT IN MY NAME.

The UK is going insane. Why not just enrol the thugs in the police service? They can then enforce the curfew, and it'll give them jobs at the same time.

POLICE STATE

Voland, Caen, France

Jacqui Smith has to go she is a total yoyo and is symptomatic of what ails this Govt, This is like watching what happened after Alices tea party, When the Mad Hare did not go home he just changed his name to Gordon Brown and said we can rule this Nation. And to hell with be-grudgers.

Peter, Vancouver. BC., Canada

"The measures are announced by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, who rejected calls for custodial sentences."

Why, because it's cheaper to give the offenders community service, or make them meet the victims of stabbings.

Pretty disgraceful really

richard, gibralter,

Simple solution to knife crime, bring back corporal punishment, flog them, with a doctor present, i bet they would not do it again! We have no detterants at all.

E.Draper, connahs quay, N/Wales

What a load of codswollop. Juts as well stand them in the corner or give them a hundred lines. Is it any wonder that law and order is in such a mess in this country after eleven years under Labour. What ever happened to 'tough on crime tough on the cause of crime'?

Lock them up it's the only way

D Case, Newquay,

Crime in the USA is diminishing follow their example. Fine parents, arrest barmen and sales assistants who sell drinks to minors and drunks - take away licenses, curfew under 18´s, start school police awareness programs in elementary level - make community service longer and harder.

Micad, Chelsea, London

I'm not sure that a curfew would actually have the desired effect.
What would have an effect is flogging or birching for the offence of carrying a knife and hanging for murder. That is what the public would like to see, not some grinning oaf at the end of their bed.

Keith, Grantham,

Brilliant - I am sure if I get stabbed I would love to have a bunch of knife wielding psycos parading past my hospital bed while I try and watch overpriced telly.

I least there is a change they will catch a superbug and get a proper punishment.

Mark, Oldham, UK

9 out 10 parents?

Are you sure?

Or is this a way of identifying unfit parents?

James, Ilford, United Kingdom

Forgive me if I’m being naïve but today’s youth are highly materialistic so why not hit them where it hurts. A fine, say five hundred pounds for a first offence, five thousand for a second. Then allow the police to set up metal detecting arches, airport style, at random in city centres at night.

Anthony Higham, Edenbridge, Kent

So are they saying, the youngsters carrying knives, go and visit the victim that their mates just knifed and that will stop them!!
Stop all the time wasting, lock this scum up or put them into national service for 12 months, send out a message do not carry knives or you'll be put away.

L.Hall, ketteringf, Northants

The soft approach has never worked.
Lock these scum up. Throw away the key to be melted down. No visits by family or anyone. One meal a day of fish gruel complete with eyes, scales, fins and tails, and a hunk of old bread.
This will soon end the problem.

David Michael, Antalya, Turkey

These hard bitten knife wielding thugs would not feel any remorse facing their victims.The only thing that would make these murdering savages tremble, would be the sight of a noose ready to be tightened around their necks. Urgent remedies have to be taken to restore law and order.

N.Metcalf, Lincoln, uk

thats the idea mrs smith don,t lock em up give them a good talking to then take them round to see thier victim thats if they are alive,they won,t know whats hit em.they have no fear of the law and now they will be shaking in thier boots with laughter no jail time a hospital visit instead

brian rice, halifax, england

Mrs Smith, you've lost the plot.
If I'd been stabbed, the last thing I'd want would be my assailant to visit me in hospital - probably to gloat rather than to be remorseful.
It might be unfashionable in liberal legal circles, but the fact is, the public wants knifers locked up.

Geoffrey Negus, Solihull, England

Jacqui Smith is totally misguided in believing that prison, as a solution for knife crime is " simplistic and wrong"
I attended a detention centre in 1962 at the age of sixteen for the offence of Aggravated Robbery.

It was tough, so was i, but i didn't want more.

Teach them Crime equals time

brian bainbridge, high wycombe, England

How ridiculous to suggest that knife carrying youths should visit A&E wards. The people here are sick, injured, in pain and doctors and nurses are often fighting to save their lives. Video the injuries and show them in schools by all means but let the hospitals do their job unhindered.

Pamela, London, UK

We've lost the basic tools that really moderate social behaviour - external social stigma, internal personal shame and in the final analysis the ability of adults to impose social order if necessary by moderate force. All swept away by moral relativism and rights culture. Good luck to the police.

Simon, London, uk

This crime will not stop until we have some serious punishment including the death penalty for a second offence.

Education and training is a wonderful tool, but it will only work if the offender shows interest and therefore cooperates.

Ken, Orpington, Kent

What nonesense. Another one of Nu-labour`s social-policy driven schemes. Whatever next - a group hug for knife carriers ?

Paul Green, Nottingham, UK

Seems like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Continuing to allow thugs to stab and kill and send them on a conscious trip afterwards.
But then again, why bother listening to this govenmnet anyway. All their 'initiatives' always come to nothing.

Gareth Jones, Dússeldorf, Germany

When are these MP's going to get off the do gooder bandwagon and wake up to reality? Do they really think making offenders go and see their victims will make any difference? As a serving Police Officer, I know they will be laughing behind everyone’s backs. Long custodial sentences are the answer.

Steve , Stevenage, Herts

pointless. a majority of violence among the young involves 'business'. Such 'business people' will do their 'business', they won't close up shop - they'll either do their business during daylight hours or get around the law one way or another - after all, in that they have plenty of experience.

Marco, KrakOw, Poland

Utter utter utter utter waste of time. This government is so far out of touch. Why the hell is Jacqui Smith so reluctant to take strong measures with these knife wielding lunatics. Not only should the criminals be jailed but where the age of the attacker is below 18 the parents should face charges.

Steve Brown, bishops stortford, uk

What's this? A sensible policy founded on anti-crime tactics that have been shown to be effective in trails? Surely not!

If Brown can broaden this stratergy of introducing policies on the basis of whether they work or not, rather than whether they conform to New Labour dogma... nah, its too late!

Tim, Edinburgh, Scotland

Exactly what a knife victim needs - why not try it with rape too as I'm sure the wave of remorse sweeping over the perpetrator will ensure it never happens again and the victim will be wholly comfortable with the scenario? A back of note pad, knee-jerk, headline grasping initiative so typical today.

Simon, London, UK

and besides, i'd personally - as a non-criminal - be prepared to go to prison to walk around freely in my own country at any time i wished - and i'm sure the ECHR would back me all the way! After all, we're not living in a communist dictatorship... or are we?

Marco, KrakOw, Poland

A curfew is a not a knee jerk reaction but an intelligent, necessary response to a desparate situation. It is nonsense to speak of youngsters rights. It is our responsability to keep them safe. The police- who have to cope with underage (and extended hours) drinking- may then restore the rule of law

Morgan, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

First the liberal lefties take away all power from teachers in the classroom, then take away all chance of parents to adquately discipline kids, then treat kids as "adults and victims" and go soft on sentencing, then open up drinking hours, and after all this we are suprised about feral youth..?

phil, Headley Down, UK

Laughable .Shows government and public havn't a clue [this is all the £100 K plus a year minister can come up with ?] Besides which , as Australian says here , there aren't any police on the streets in the UK in the first place they're all on curfue. I live in France 'beaucoup gendarmes.'

christopher m, Morbihan, france

yeah, great idea, it'd really make my day to have a gaggle of street urchins pointing and sniggering as i lay fighting for my life in casualty. this government gets sillier and sillier by the day!

Marco, KrakOw, Poland

with such a great proportion of parents "welcom[ing]" and "back[ing]" curfews, why don't they impose them themselves instead of sitting back and hoping the government will do it for them?

Marco, KrakOw, Poland

get a grip and bring back the death penalty for murder....alright it sounds a bit harsh but it will bring about the desired effect and stop a lot of these killers.sooner or later a wake up call will be needed so we might as well have it sooner!!

joe, london, u.k

If Gordon Brown is serious about knife crime he should start carrying a blade himself - make it soooo unkool man

haralambos, joburg,

If I were a stab victim the last person I'd want to see on my ward would be my attacker. What a totally insensitive suggestion. Having been mugged twice at knife point (thankfully never stabbed) I have no sympathy for people who carry knives. Lock them up - simple.

ewan, london,

New Labour have finally lost the plot!

Caner Mustafa, London,

So a visit to the hospital to look at victims of knife crime is the solution then? I don't think so. A government barren of ideas or moral conviction. Move on Nu-Labour

Jim, Liverpool,

So if you are stabbed you will have a stream of young hoodlums visit you in hospital to examine your wounds. That will be nice.

Glen, Melbourne , Australia

The police in my local station are so keen on energy saving that they must fill in their legendary forms in the dark. No police on the streets, no lights on in the regional police station. Why do the Met. get paid a shift allowance?

Adrian, London,

9 out of 10 parents? So your telling me that the kids that are out after a curfew period are all belonging to that 1 in 10? Really? This appears to be a case of the wrong playing righteous. If parents actually put some work in to raising their children past the age of 6, we might not live in denial!

Sam, Bournemouth, UK

There are no politically correct answers to this - which is a bit of a problem for Brown and co. since they only do politically correct policies (like making offenders visit A&E wards which will have no effect apart from distressing those in A&E). This won't be fixed until Brown is gone.

John, York,

Why not get more information from SANDRA MELVIN, who says they have a curfew system in operation at the moment in Dallas, Texas, and it WORKS.

Does anyone IN POWER read the comments made by respondents when this kind of article is printed in the newspaper??

Let's check it out!

Annie, Bath, UK

These crimes are done by fatherless boys with a "gangsta" culture.

Feminism gave single-mums control, but with weak discipline young men cross bounderies very easily.

Political correctness permits gansta culture up to illegal boundaries.

Therefore boys easily cross the boundry into crime.

Robin, London,

Crass comments why land this problem on the army.It should be noted most of these crimes are done by ethnic minority people.Most of the problem is that knives are common where they come from.

Cliff Braham, Newtown, Wales

There are plenty of good points in these responses - when are we going to have feedback on these ideas and suggestions?

Government seems to make up its own mind on a whim and fancy without polling the 'little people', i.e. US.

All we can do is leave comments in little e-boxes. No one listens.

Annie, Bath, UK

Sigh evolution dont think so as a species we are going backwards these creatures wandering the streets say it all.
It started with the parents and will end with the children the lost generation a bleak future for britain indeed!

john, wrexham,

Parents ought to know where their kids are and with whom. Good parents do. The mores of bad parents have become the norm. Kids have little contact with interested adults. The lottery
was supposed to result in money for sport and arts facilities for kids in the cities. The Govt took the money.

John, London, UK

No way an under 10 should be out after 8 no way an under 16 should be out after 9. Kids should be spending time with interested adults learning many things ,including how to get along with other people.

Neil, Hazlemere, UK

Wouldn't work in a million years. Too many single parents who can't cope with their well built teenaged sons.

judy, Liverpool, England

Curfews will only encourage the police to hassle harmless looking youngsters on their way home from a friend's house whilst allowing the harder cases to go free .

What the public demands isn't necessarily what they should be given in civil liberties cases.

Ian , Islerworth , UK

The idiocy of the hang 'em and flog 'em brigade rules again.

To be effective a curfew must be sensible.

10pm for all children is sensible as it allows them to go to out of school activities.

The greater sense would be for the curfew to be based on 'school age' . Same school year = same curfew.

J D S, Cardiff, UK

I don't know where you carried out your survey but the comments here suggest it was not among the people who read your newspaper. I don't beleive that 90% of people want yet another heavy handed law. The problem is deeper than anything that can be solved by another kneejerk law.

Simon , Chatham, Kent

Put them in jails like Sherrif Joe's in Maricopa County, Pheonix. They cost peanuts to run and the inmates get real hard labour. Prison is too easy and the lags have no fear of returning there; it 's like a badge of honour. We need a justice system centred on the victim, not the criminal.

Brian, Dubai, UAE

This is a totally out there idea. Going to school in the late 1990s/early 2000s I saw this sort of 'subculture' before it reached mainstream attention. It doesn't chage the fact that the vast majority of teenagers are not out to cause trouble. The only solution is longer prison sentences.

katie elsmore, warwickshire,

Why not take a leaf out of Singapore's book and hand out corporal punishment for thugs and knife crimes or even for those caught carrying a knife. Why has the great British public gone soft on real punishment for those deserving. Curfews are just nonsense.

Brooks, C, Jomtien, Thailand

Probably one of the more ridiculous escalations of opinion. 20 unfortunate stabbings in two quarters in a city of roughly 10 million. Am I the only one who no longer feels threatened by those not old enough to remember Thundercats?

Lee, london, uk

You can't solve a situation by pretending it doesn't exist. If someone is intent on killing someone else, I doubt they'd be dettered by being told they'll have their wrist smacked for being out in the dark. Perhaps if we were all to stay in our houses, all the time, we'd all be safe.

Paul Warning, Hull,

In countries with restrictions to children such as curfew, what is the homicide rate there? Speaks for itself.

T.Andre, London,

What these feral teenagers really need is to be taught discipline.
I would put them in the Army for a minimum 5 Years.
The penalties for violent crime should also be harsh and the full tariff of the prison sentence served without any prospect of parole.

Stephen Holmes, Withington, UK

Do the supporters of this ludricous curfew idea know what they are doing? Not only are they accepting the loss of liberties we have gained over the centuries they are actively pleading with the government to take it further, and further, and further. Terrifying!

Peter Miles, Crediton, UK

Bring back National Service.

They would learn Respect, Discipline and Direction and help bolster one of the most expensive mercinary forces in the world.

Andy, Knutsford, UK

The problem goes back to the days when canes were banned from schools and parents were not allowed to punish there misbehaving child. Send the "respect" seekers to Afghanistan and see how many of the Taliban will respect there knifes there.
Introduce them to the terror they are so intent on causing

ian, Melbourne, Australia

Very, very difficult. Freedom on the one hand and this problem on the other. I think that personal responsibility should be enforced. Whatever you do, at whatever age (within reason), it is your responsibility. The question is how to enforce this. I would like to hear a debate from our 'government'.

simon, Southampton, UK

Another daft knee jerk idea,punish all youngsters,for the actions of a few.
The problem cannot be solved,until,we admit where the problem lies.

Ray Barrett, Daventry, England

Older folk already have their own self imposed curfew, try and find an elderly person on the streets of South London after dark ,they'r too scared.What has our country come to?

Alan Barrett, Leatherhead, UK

In modern England you cant drive down a main road at more then 30mph without having police hiding with speed-guns cashing in on motorists. Walk down the same street with a knife or a gun and no one would do anything. I.D cards, CCTV state, phone taps = Orwellianism doesnt protect us!

Tim Osman, London, UK

Successive gov'ts took away authority from parents and schools, now there's no respect for anyone.
OOR GORDY's gov't only proposes absurd, pathetic, unworkable 'solutions' involving great cost to someone else.
Smarter initiatives provide parents with a bigger involvement and responsibility.

Padraig, Perth, Australia

this is just a short term measure to stop the crime but the real problem lies with the social and the family enviromen around the child Parent must have some sort of control over their children but in this FREE country any effort to stop the child from doing something is eligible case of child abuse

pinks, leicester, england

So 90% of parents are happy to abbrogate responsibility for children and take the country closer to a totalitarian police state... without policemen anymore. I was in UK for 9 weeks in 2007 and saw police on the beat only four times, including twice in central London. So... back to you, parents.

E.Cowham, Melbourne, Australia

Unless the measures being contemplated include, at the very least, a national referendum on the reintroduction of capital punishment the Government cannot claim to be taking the matter seriously. I would also like to see armed troops used as backup to the police in so-called sensitive areas.

Philip, Nottingham, UK

Parent : You're not going out.
Child : Yes I am
Parent : You're not going out
Child : I am and if you try and stop me I'll call child line and the police and have you done for child abuse.

Parents have no powers anymore. One parent families are growing because a father's job is defunct.

Mark, London,

I was in the scouts and we didn't finish until 9pm and often a bit later. I wouldn't be home until 10pm and it was great - so coming home from the scouts would now mean that the police could hastle a child. This is ridiculous!

Mark Jones, Cardiff, Wales

For Christ's sake can somone just remove the free travel pass they all get in London and stop them roaming around. Problem solved.

chris forte, Geoje Island , South Korea

Unenforceable! Next suggestion please...

Michael, London,

We continually hear the reason these individuals carry a knife is to gain "respect" Strong penalties are needed, these louts must be made to respect serious consequences of knife carrying which outway their reasons Law makers seem to prefer being paid to do the long talk rather than action
Why

RW, Plymouth, Devon

What an utterly stupid idea; so we now alienate the large majority of our decent youth by locking them up at sunset! It's simple, stupid: do the crime, do the time; forty, fifty years if necessary. I don't care. You won't do much knife crime back on the streets at 70.

Lee, Ellesmere Port, UK

Curfew! My foot. They ll just stab each other during the day.

alexandra laheurte, Noumea, Nex Caledonia

this is absolutely disgusting, if you effectively put all 16 year olds under house arrest, then you are assuming guilt and more importantly you are profiling 1 particular section of the country.
This is the kind of thing mugabe would do, but for 16year olds read MDC supporters.

free country? No

will, grimsby, uk

I agree with Geoffs comments its time we stopped acting soft!
its a severe crime so let's severely punish the culprits and send them to prison where they should be treated harshly and hate every second! The governent needs to be far tougher with all crime!

john, Nuneaton , UK

If so many parents want a curfew (various figures were quoted) why don't they actually impose them themselves on their own children.

Are parents so inadequate that a national law is required in order for children to comply?

Richard, Manchester,

ridiculous idea, I'm not in the age range that would get affected (I'm 20) but if a curfew was brought in when I was 15 that said I was not allowed outside my house after 9pm I'd feel a huge loss of my basic human rights.

Where is innocent until proven guilty in all of this?

Michael W, Surbiton, UK

I am a citizen of the UK and live in Texas, USA for the last 16 years. We have curfews here for our teenagers during school,weekends and holidays, it helps believe me especially when it is inforced with parents own curfews. Never believe 100% you know where your child is, be a parent vote wisely.

Sandra Melvin, DALLAS, USA

Let the people rule - this gov't has absolutely no idea and for Brown, well.......................!!!

A summit where former gang members say no to stop and search is all Brown could come up with this w/end - get me out of this lunatic assylum !!!!!!

Ian Payne, walsall,

Prison reform is urgently needed. The regime must be hard enough to deter inmates from the risk of re-offending. No TV or other entertainment or music should be allowed. No smoking is a must. Anything else makes it a holiday camp.

M Wilson, Bidache, france

How on earth is the government going to enforce that all children (how old is a child?) should be off the streets by 9.00pm? More soundbite nonsense. The truth is the govoernment don't have a clue. A lot of this knife crime is gang related; get in and smash the gangs. Sorry no tax haul though.

Dr Ian Burgess, Bristol,

As much as the above seems to be a good idea at first, one needs to realise that we are only treating the symptomes but the real problems that cause all this are not being addressed, ie parents that do not care or provide bad examples or only point to the state saying you sort my child out.

NeK, London,

Sticking plaster measures, sticking plaster measures, that is all this government ever comes up with.It is Labour that created the conditions for the society we have got by sweeping away all but the mildest of punishments for the young.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Social breakdown and the rise in knife and other violent crime is not caused by 'Labour' as suggested in this article. Social breakdown of this type is caused by television programs, computer games and films that condition the young mind into a state of violent intent! Blame hedonism, nothing else!

Keith Colin, Worthing, England

Most young kids carry knives to protect themselves. The gangs have no one to go home to after School Why?

Because this Government has made it impossible for Mums to stay home to bring up their own Kids
They are made to work and until we wake up to this, kids will continue to die.

It's tragic

Carrie, :London,

Never mind a call for curfews, there should be a curtain call for Brown and his government.

They are an administration devoid of talent and workable ideas. They should be ousted before the country goes into a deep recession and before society collapses completely.

Rick, London, England

If one carries a knife IMHO there should be a mandatory sentence. No discussion, no mitigating circumstances, end of story. The job of the police is difficult enough so let's make it easy. Carry a blade and you are banged to rights. Severe crime, very simple.

Geoff Lusk, Margueron, France

Why not lock youth up for 42 nights without charge? They are terrorising their communities after all, and each other!

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

So, a curfew for 16 year olds at 9 pm. Which means ..... they can't go to cinemas? Theatres? Youth Clubs? Evening classes? Spend time at the homes of family friends? Go to parties? Are they really suggesting that 16 year olds of today can't have the freedom that their GRANDPARENTS had?

mary, colchester, uk

Excellent idea - no one under 18 years old should be out in public after 9pm unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
When will it become law!

Richard, Greater Manchester,

it does not stop them stabbing you at 12 in the afternoon does it

k, yorkshire,

The Police should be out there ON THE BEAT with portable metal detectors and asking all these youths to go through the detector. If they are found with a knife without very good reason then they should be enlisted for 2 years or jailed for 5 ,their choice.
The Police are too lazy though !!

Alex, Birmingham, UK

'Nine out of 10 parents would back legal restrictions on their children going out after dark'.
Why should a curfew be necessary? Parents - and that means YOU, fellow readers, why can't you police your own children? We should be taking responsibility for our children.

Paul, Osaka, Japan

The british public have become so scared of their own shadow that they're now begging the government to micro manage more and more of their sad pathetic little lives. IT makes me ashamed to be british. And of co