Replacing pointed-tip kitchen knives with rounded blades could help reduce knife crime and prevent serious injuries within the home, according to research at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Wait, haven't we been here before? Reader, yes. Yes, we have...
In a study led by senior lecturer in Forensic Science at DMU, Leisa Nichols-Drew, five kitchen knives – each with a different type of blade tip – were used for ‘stab tests’ on items of clothing, to examine the damage caused by each knife.
In collaboration with DMU’s Dr Rachel Armitage and Dr Kevin Farrugia, University of Leicester’s Professor Robert Hillman and Northumbria University’s Dr Kelly Sheridan, Leisa conducted 300 ‘tests’ using a single downward stabbing motion on four garments, including a t-shirt, a pair of denim jeans, a long-sleeved jumper and a faux leather skirt – all made from different materials.
Your taxes undoubtedly went - somehow, probably grants - towards three 'scientists' stabbing clothing all day. This is why we don't have flying cars yet!
“We want to remove the need for pointed knives. The majority of fatal injuries are caused by penetrative stabbings,” she added.
Prior to joining DMU, Leisa was a practitioner for the Home Office’s Forensic Science Service, working on some of Britain’s most notorious major crime cases. She later worked as a trainer for the police, judiciary and Crown Prosecution Service to improve their forensic awareness.
“My time in case work definitely inspired me to want to do this research,” she said. “I remember thinking at the time that there had to be a way to lower the risk of these terrible crimes from happening.”
And all it'll take is for everyone in the UK to change their entire kitchenware! Dream big, girlie.
And of course no-one owns a grindstone.
ReplyDeleteFrom memory, machetes have a rounded point rather than a sharp one, as they are used as 'slashing' tools. How many injuries an deaths have there been, in London alone, this year involving machetes, both in the hands of the usual peace loving suspects, or post code gang members? This study may have been carried out by university grandees, focusing on their single issue study, but this only reinforces the fact that there is often a huge gap between education and intelligence.
ReplyDeleteGrindstones and knife sharpening tools will become the new bumpstocks or suppressors and need to be banned otherwise people will take ordinary kitchen knifes and turn them into assault knifes. The ba$t^rds.
ReplyDeleteBest ban them now even if it only saves one life.
Having seen an ex Royal Marine, using only an HB pencil, defend himself against a knife wielding thug, perhaps we should shut down WH Smith's?
ReplyDeleteI recall a different comment from the first time the proposal to ban "pointy knives" came up. Namely that I really would not want to live under circumstances where the only reason I am not stabbed is because of a lack of pointy knives.
ReplyDelete