Charles Walker calls on the Home Secretary to use sentencing to persuade young people that the simple act of carrying a knife is a serious crime in itself.

Mr. Charles Walker (Broxbourne) (Con): I can reassure the Home Secretary that, despite being in touch with my feminine side, I will not be hugging a hoodie, in case he stabs me in the stomach. On a serious point, how can we best use sentencing to persuade young people that the simple act of carrying a knife is a serious crime in itself?

John Reid: We do that by making sure that the maximum sentence for carrying a knife-whetherit is classified as an offensive weapon or an objectwith a point, which are the two classifications in legislation-is long enough to denote the seriousness of that act. That is why I have announced today, as part of my measures, that I intend to extend the maximum sentence for carrying an object with a point or a blade to four years.

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