Knife campaign cuts deaths

A POLICE initiative to tackle knife crime reduced fatal stabbings of youngsters in West Yorkshire to zero last year. There were seven fatal stabbings of 11 to 19-year-olds in 2007-8. But following the launch of The Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) in June 2008 there were no fatalities from knife crime in the period up to March this year. Phase two of TKAP, launched in April, bids to reduce all serious youth violence. West Yorkshire Police’s Firearms Support Unit has been visiting schools to highlight the risks of carrying weapons.