To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for restricting the policy on prosecuting everyone carrying a knife to London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. (179819)

[holding answer 17 January 2008]: The Government do not intend to restrict their plans for the presumption to prosecute those found carrying a knife to the areas referred to in the question.

The Metropolitan Police Service in London are already adopting a positive charging policy, and we are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service and police forces to see how the arrangements agreed in London might be extended more widely. These proposals were announced on 18 February as part of the Government’s Tackling Violence Action Plan.