Late add: I was going to note that this was from 2005 at the beginning of the article, but forgot. The point of posting it was to show up a particular British commenter who sniffed to the effect that 'gun murders don't happen' in Albion. Apparently forgotten is that humans will find other methods.
 A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings. They argued many assaults are committed impulsively, prompted by alcohol and drugs, and a kitchen knife often makes an all too available weapon. The researchers said there was no reason for long pointed knives to be publicly available at all.
They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen. None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed.
| Chefs said that they didn't need .. chefs knives? |
| Y'gotta pick the chefs you ask, of course... |
| Did they ask them at knifepoint? |
| They don't need 'em down at the Burger King. They got a machine to slice the onions. |
| It is true that the point of a small paring knife is best for pointy work. But the blade of a longer knife is much, much better for slicing and chopping and cutting up large pieces of meat. Possibly these particular chefs are looking for more customers for their various expensive restaurants. |
The researchers said a short pointed knife may cause a substantial superficial wound if used in an assault - but is unlikely to penetrate to inner organs.
The study found links between easy access to domestic knives and violent assault are long established. French laws in the 17th century decreed that the tips of table and street knives be ground smooth. A century later, forks and blunt-ended table knives were introduced in the UK in an effort to reduce injuries during arguments in public eating houses. The research is published in the British Medical Journal.
The researchers say legislation to ban the sale of long pointed knives would be a key step in the fight against violent crime.
[A] Home Office spokesperson said there were already extensive restrictions in place to control the sale and possession of knives. A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "ACPO supports any move to reduce the number of knife related incidents, however, it is important to consider the practicalities of enforcing such changes." |