The Howard League for Penal Reform yesterday confirmed what many have suspected for some time: that punishment alone is ineffective in the fight against knife crime among young people.
Findings show that children as young as 11 are carrying weapons. The reasons are many, but include protection and personal victimisation.
There are strong indications that poor parental ties are being replaced by the strong social ties of a gang - a homage to the adage, safety in numbers.
Of concern should be the perception among young people that the gangs offer more protection than the police.
However, the main conclusion drawn by Pentonville prison governor Nicola Marfleet in "Why Carry a Weapon?" is that current policy on knife crime is failing.
Marfleet interviewed under-18s in custody at Feltham prison and young people in two pupil referral units in London.
Marfleet is rightly keen to see the government shift its focus on combating knife crime from one that involves solely the criminal justice system to one that takes a multi-agency approach.
There is already plenty out there.
Community projects that value young people and form the sense of togetherness patently missing at home do exist but the government must take the lead in encouraging more to develop in areas of high family breakdown. Local authorities can also play their part, as Lambeth does in the award-winning X-it initiative.
And the government could look again at its dalliance with extending restorative justice to knife offenders, a valid idea scuppered only by its cack-handed presentation.
The government's youth crime action plan contains ideas for interventions, with families most at risk of criminal tendencies being targeted for Sure Start help and courses for first-time offenders. Intensive parenting support would deal with repeat offenders.
It would be wrong to suggest that little is being done, but the Home Office would do well to heed the findings in "Why Carry a Weapon?".
Community Care Live Children and Families is running a plenary session on the youth crime action plan on 29 October.
Essential reading on restorative justice here.
Not surprisingly, the Home office and Justice Dept are not too pleased with this report. The author was prevented from attending her own book launch on Thrusday, hosted by the Howard League by presure 'from above'. I wonder if David Hanson had actually read this excellent report? His press office were keen to distance themselves from it.