KNIFE crime is at last being taken seriously by the Government - but no one ...

Yesterday, Home Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament that he agreed with the public health approach - pioneered in Glasgow where knife crime was successfully acted upon as a health epidemic - while Health Secretary Matt Hancock appeared to disagree, saying that approach "implies that it's nobody's fault". Operation Shutdown wants 20,000 police officers put back on Britain's streets, but Communities Secretary James Brokenshire argued against the accusation that police cuts were a "mistake", while Theresa May said there was no direct link between falling police officer numbers and the rise of violent crime.

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No wonder bereaved parents want to call a meeting of the COBRA emergency committee. With at least 22 fatal stabbings already this year there is no time to delay.There should be harsh penalties for those carrying knives - and the Government should get a grip.

Towns cash a good start

WE APPLAUD the Government's £1.6billion Stronger Towns Fund. It will at last benefit those places, often neglected, that are the backbone of Britain. The

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