MERSEYSIDE yesterday saw the first knife crime court open for business as city leaders focused on tackling the issue.

The Crown Prosecution Service also revealed they had appointed a knife crime prosecutor. It is the first time that dedicated court time has been established in Merseyside to deal with knives.

Paul Whittaker, Chief Crown Prosecutor and member of Merseyside Criminal Justice Board, said: “We have worked closely with police and regard knife crime as very serious and have a policy of always prosecuting these cases.”

Yesterday, British Transport Police (BTP) took five people before magistrates at a dedicated “knife court” arranged in partnership with the CPS and Magistrates’ Courts Service.

The renewed efforts in Merseyside come in the same week that 16-year-old Joseph Lappin was stabbed to death outside the Shrewsbury House Youth Club on Monday.

Police have arrested five young people on murder and attempted murder charges and Joseph’s parents have appealed for families to help trace their son’s killers.

Tributes and messages of condolence have piled up outside the youth club marking the young man’s cruelly shortened life.

The new legal efforts also coincide with a government-backed campaign to engage the public in the work of the Criminal Justice System – Inside Justice Week.

In the week-long campaign, BTP officers said they had checked 447 people using their own metal detection arches at stations in Merseyside.

As a result, three men, aged 42, 24 and 19 and a woman aged 42, charged with possession of a bladed article, and a 29 year old man charged with possession of an offensive weapon appeared at court.

But a Liverpool councillor is arguing more needs to be done to prevent knives falling into the wrong hands.

Cllr Paul Clein made an impassioned plea to Merseyside Police Authority at yesterday’s Community Partnership Committee.

He referred to St Helens Town Centre Neighbourhood scheme.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “There have been a lot of initiatives and one included a 15-year-old being sent in to buy knives in St Helens.

“Out of 10 test purchases, he was sold knives three times.

“The shop keepers were handed adult cautions, but in Liverpool prosecutions are being considered.

“We need a consistent approach and I suggested a zero tolerance approach.

“This is an issue at the front of the public’s mind at the moment, and we need to make everyone play their part.”

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