Violent times

May 30 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE SHOCKING death of Amar Aslam is the latest in a spate of chilling incidents which have cost young men their lives.

We do not yet know the full details of his last moments at Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury – except that they must have been terrifying.

What we do know, though, is that this is the second violent killing in six months of a 17-year-old in the town.

Councillors have understandably tried to say all this does not make Dewsbury a bad place and indeed it has to be admitted that the killing rate is very low in comparison with other places.

But Kirklees Council leader Robert Light was unwise to say, and we quote him again here: “It’s not the sensationalist type of murder portrayed by some media outlets.”

Excuse us? Try telling that to the devastated families grieving the loss of a loved one. They will not be happy to learn that we now apparently grade violent deaths in order of the gruesomeness of circumstances.

Amar’s death is the latest in a number of well-publicised incidents nationally and the question now is how to stop it.

A new anti-knife ad campaign using photos of grisly real-life wounds is certainly one way deserving of a try.

Young people need to be taught that carrying knives is not hip or trendy, it is, in fact, a hugely irresponsible move which could have terrible repercussions.

And they also need to realise that human life is far too precious a commodity to be put at risk by such reckless behaviour.

The key, as ever, is education.