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Acceptable Stabbings

Posted by: Michael Smith | 18 February, 2010 - 1:17 PM

Yesterday I spoke with the Commissioner of Police Bob Atkinson about knife crimes in educational campuses, after we pointed out Queensland Police figures that showed knives were used in 46 reported crimes against the person on educational campuses in 08/09.

I was shocked. Most people I’ve shown those figures to are shocked. But the Police Commissioner said that he wasn’t shocked.

Commissioner Atkinson told me that given the large number of primary, secondary and tertiary students attending Queensland campuses, a figure of 1 knife attack per week was “a very acceptable figure, I can live with that.”

I understand the Commissioner’s arithmetic. There are around 750,000 people who go to school or uni each week in Queensland. That makes for more than 3 million attendances each week. And in that context a rate of 1 attack out of 3 million visits may not sound too bad.

But I don’t see it that way. I was and still am shocked by the fact that each week, a child or uni student can expect to go to a uni or school in Queensland and be attacked with a knife.

You can apply the statistical logic to any problem. Just say there are 4 million Queenslanders who go to the shops 7 times a week, that’s 28 million visits to the shop, so the armed robbery rate is quite acceptable. Try telling that to someone who’s been robbed.

My point is that when society’s institutions, like the police or the parliament, start to “accept” a level of crime like the weekly knife attacks in education campuses, we can be sure that we are on a decline downwards. Schools and unis should be peaceful, safe sanctuaries – not the place for an “acceptable” level of knife crime to take root and grow.

Knife attacks in campuses grew by 35% from 07/08 to 08/09.

If we accept one per week last year, than maybe 1 or 2 a week next year will be OK.

In the aftermath of the death of a 12 year old boy through a knife attack, I think we need to draw the line. No attacks are acceptable.

I don’t want to live in a community where we accept that some people will carry knives and use them.

Blog comments

Read the report Sue. There are no deaths in the 46. None.

How many Kids died in car accidents last year ?

Robert Bourke Wednesday 24 February, 2010 - 9:58 PM
As I said Robert if one of those 46 was yours maybe you'd feel differently and are you really suggesting 46 children's deaths through violence is ok? Try telling that to their parents. I guess by your logic that 4 people who died as a result of the insulation scheme is no biggie either.

Sue Tuesday 23 February, 2010 - 9:46 AM
Really Sue ?. 46 out of 3 million ?

The sky is falling. The sky is falling.

Robert Bourke Monday 22 February, 2010 - 11:02 PM
Hey Robert - 11.04pm. You are very ignorant to concentrate your concerns about travel to/from school etc.. These incidents have been happening for years previous to this tragedy. My nextdoor neighbour has foster children - knife carrying to school - normal to them - the departments response ....ooooh! these poor children need to be protected - what about protecting them by giving them the skills to deal with situations and supporting foster carers to help them deal with it rather than excusing them from their behaviours and not supporting the schools, foster parents or the police in managing these situations. Want more - boy can I tell you about Family Services and criminal behaviour.

joy Monday 22 February, 2010 - 9:24 PM
Robert, if one of those 46 kids was your son or daughter then maybe it'd be too big a number. Any child's death from a violent act is unacceptable.

Sue Monday 22 February, 2010 - 5:41 PM
Glassings started with the first incident.
Road Rage started with the first incident.
Knife attacks also started with the first incident and all these assaults Globally are on the rise.
Our Governments have not done enough to reduce the numbers, the penalties if they exist are too soft. Society and the Police complain and the Governments do nothing to protect victims.

Albert Friday 19 February, 2010 - 1:34 PM