A YOUTH offending officer has shared views on what must be done to combat the rise in knife crime.

Ceryl Marsh has 20 years experience working in youth offending management including across Essex and Southend.

In the face of an unprecedented numbers of knife attacks across the country, Ms Marsh has said better sentencing powers are the only way we will see a reduction in knife crime.

She said: “Part of my role over the years has been to run the youth court for areas where I worked.

“Do you know how many young people I have dealt with in court over the last ten years who went to prison for carrying a knife – two.

“And one of those immediately and successfully applied for bail pending appeal against his sentence which he later went on to win as the six-month detention was considered ‘manifestly excessive’.”

In a blog published on LinkedIn, Ms Marsh said tougher sentences in response to the spike in acid attacks was enough to make youths think twice before carrying. Around two years ago, there were three sentences of significant length that genuinely shook the offenders up.

“For those I have known that have used the knife, they say ‘I didn’t plan to – it just happened’ yet more often than not they can’t appreciate how had they not carried a knife that day, they wouldn’t have used it.

“I talk about those cases to the ones who come to me for possession – they all say they wouldn’t use it but in the heat of the moment how can anyone be sure?

“We need better sentencing powers and we need them now. I really do believe that it is the only way we will see any reduction in knife crime.

“Now, as a youth offending team worker, our roles are somewhat ‘in the middle’ – tasked with protecting the public but also rehabilitating offenders. Additionally, being mindful that we are working with children ups the ante a bit. The whole welfare versus justice debate is a very fine line to walk.

“So as much as I am saying we need harsher sentences for knife carriers, increased police and court powers and mandatory sentencing, I have also stood up myself, many a time, and argued against custody for a young person who has carried a knife.

“Why? Because we deal with the side that not many see. The side where we’ve worked with a young person for many years and have watched them navigate life through all their difficulties, where we appreciate how hard it is to be a teenager now and how terrified they must be stepping out every day worrying whether they’ll make it home that night.

“But, there comes a time when even after all of that, enough is enough. We’ve done the niceties. We will still all be there to support these offenders because we care about what we do.

“I am sure that if the message gets out that anyone carrying a knife will go to prison the message will be heard – it might take a while but it will be heard. We need to retrain this generation of young people – carrying a knife has serious and lifelong implications for offenders, the victims, the families of both and the public. A national emergency it might well be.

"But why are we still asking for someone to do something – how many more people need to be stabbed or murdered before action takes place?"

To read Ceryl's full blog, click here.