Gary Gordon, former owner of Kithen Kapers cookshops, honorary Bira member and member of the Bira Legal and Parliamentary committee, as well as Bira’s representative on the BRC property group has joined HousewaresNews.net’s debate about the sale of knives.
Gary comments:
“Your recently published article from Keith of La Cookshop was very apt for the current legislation situation. He made some very good points.
However, the government, no matter of which persuasion, refuses to accept that the main source of knife crime is social and not down to a few retailers selling knives to under age buyers.
It has to be accepted that knife crime is mainly linked to the illegal drug trade. Sharpened blades are the weapon of choice of the gangs running the underground drugs trade, protecting their patches from all others who might try or buy or sell drugs where they operate.
The massive majority of knives are acquired from the kitchen drawer, or a neighbour’s kitchen drawer, and not from a shop, where they will be clocked and possible recognised during the purchase process.
Yet, instead of focusing on the truth of the matter, HMG points the finger at traders, missing the whole point, to suit their own purpose.The powers that be should be looking at the legal availability of drugs, and whether they should be legally allowed to be prescribed. A difficult ask, but unless action is taken to wreck the income of the drug dealers, by making access to drugs available, and at an acceptable price, knife crime will continue to be a massive problem to our country.
A sad acknowledgement, but one the MP’s should recognise.
Top: Gary Gordon has spoken out on the issue of knives sales.
