LONDON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Tougher sentences and community involvement, especially for youths, can curb gun violence, the British government said.
In a chat on the 10 Downing Street Web site Tuesday, Home Secretary John Reid said the increasing use of guns and knives and the age at which they are used was something which "could not be ignored."
"Since we introduced the five year mandatory sentence for gun crime firearms, offences have fallen by 14 percent and the number of people killed has fallen from 78 to 50," Reid said.
Stressing the need not to move in the direction of the United States, the home secretary said the media should be careful about the extent of its analysis of criminal cases.
"Where conviction has taken place, especially where those convicted are guilty of crimes against children...there is a case for further information to be made available to the public," Reid said.
The secretary also reaffirmed his support for community sentences which, forces offenders to do unpaid work for the benefit of the local community. This saves taxpayers $78,484 (40,000 pounds) the Home Office Secretary said
"Of course serious, dangerous, or persistent offenders should be sent to prison but there is a role for community service and payback," Reid said.
