SHARP INCREASE IN STAB WOUNDS ACROSS HAMPSHIRE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

The number of people admitted to hospital with stab wounds in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has soared by 40% in the last five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

The figures, contained within a parliamentary answer, show that:

There were eight 16-18 year olds admitted to hospital for stab wounds in 2005/6.

There are on average 19 people a year admitted to hospital in Hampshire with gunshot wounds.

The overall number of hospital admissions for stab wounds has gone up from 67 in 2002/2003, to 94 in 2005/2006.

Commenting today, Hampshire MP Sandra Gidley said:

"This shocking increase shows the government's strategy on knife crime is failing in Hampshire.

"The government repeatedly claims that crime is falling, but these figures show that serious attacks requiring hospital admission are up.

"What is most disturbing is that the knife carrying culture is affecting young people in the county. Teenagers don't feel safe on our streets, and this is only fuelling the spiral of knife crime across the county.

"Instead of spending billions on unworkable and unnecessary ID cards, the Government should spend the money on actually making people safer by putting more bobbies on our local streets."

ENDS