This ad will be closed automatically in X seconds.

Church leaders say ‘no bloody point’ on knives

 Church of England bishops have called for the re-design of kitchen knives in order to reduce knife crime in a recent letter to the Government published in The Sunday Times. Signatories to the letter also included crime and gang culture experts and MPs.

The letter referred to a five-year study in Edinburgh, which found that 94% of the sharp instruments used in homicides were kitchen knives. Suggesting that rounded ends for knives would reduce knife crime by making fatalities less likely, the letter urged the Government to “take urgent measures to promote the sale of safe kitchen knife designs and restrict those designs, which have been used in so many acts of violence.”

The signatories acknowledged that: ‘Historically, we needed a point on the end of our knife to pick up food because forks weren’t invented. Now, we only need the point to open packets when we can’t be bothered to find the scissors.’

They also wrote: “The UK has worked for the public good by restricting handguns, paracetamol, smoking in public and plastic bags – now it is time to say ‘no bloody point’.”

Above: Offering alternatives: Prestige (from Meyer Group) has already launched a range of Pointless knives (pictured) and other rounded knives are in development by the housewares industry for 2020.
Above: Offering alternatives: Prestige (from Meyer Group) has already launched a range of Pointless knives (pictured) and other rounded knives are in development by the housewares industry for 2020.

However some of public’s reaction via Twitter has included comments on the need for pointed knives for some food preparation as well as the ease of finding (or making) an alternative sharp weapon.

* According to statistics published by parliament last week, in the year ending March 2019, there were around 47,100 (selected) offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by police in England and Wales. This is the highest number in the nine-year series of data.

 

Top: National Monument against Violence and Aggression, the Knife Angel – photo by T S Peters (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.). The Knife Angel –created from knives that have been handed in – has been on display outside cathedrals including Rochester and Coventry.

MORE NEWS
MadMarchMillion
 
With a few days still left to go of March, team PH has reached 1,144,452 steps in support of industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust....
Blaise 2
 
Blaise International is introducing Kleine Wolke, a renowned European brand with a rich heritage in producing bathroom textiles since 1968....
Inspired Home Show 2024
 
A new show layout and strong exhibitor and retailer participation at the show, resulted in enhanced discovery, connections and commerce....
Cureatology MADE
 
Following its launch into Heal's earlier this month, new tableware brand, Cureatology has made its debut on MADE.com....
Keeeper
 
The keeeper Group is the latest housewares company to join BHETA. ...
BIRA x Retra
 
BIRA has announced the merger of Retra, the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association, marking a milestone in their histories....
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.