Widow's sorrow at pupil stabbing

Frances Lawrence says knives can kill just as easily as guns

The widow of murdered headteacher Philip Lawrence has spoken of how the stabbing of a schoolboy in north London last week left her heartbroken.

Frances Lawrence's husband died in 1995 trying to save a pupil from a gang at the gates of his school in Maida Vale.

Kiyan Prince, 15, also died when he was stabbed outside school gates to the London Academy school in Edgware.

She said a knife amnesty was not enough and called for penalties for knife offences to be in line with gun crime.

She told BBC Breakfast programme that knives were a massive problem which was underplayed until a high profile stabbing took place.

"I think it (the amnesty) may have a very small practical effect," she said.

Philip Lawrence died trying o defend a pupil from a gang

"Some people may tire of their knife-carrying culture and hand in knives but I think its main purpose is a symbolic one."

She said it would raise the profile of the issue and encourage debate in communities.

"It's not just the government and police who have to deal with this, it's all of us who have to try and make our communities safer.

"So I think it might open up the debate in families where someone suspects one of their children might be carrying a knife."

She added that the difference in perception between knife and gun crime was of great concern.

"We all know a knife can kill just as easily as a gun and they are much more prevalent so there is a great anomaly there I hope the government will address."

While she pointed out a knife amnesty on its own was not the solution, she did say she hoped it would encourage young boys and girls carrying knives to think again.