Celebrations marking Britain's best Olympic success in 100 years, with the country's athletes winning 19 gold medals, were marred by the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Londoner, adding to a knife-wielding trend that is worrying both church and government leaders.

The young man's death on 24 August brought the total number of violent teenage killings in the British capital alone to 24 so far this year.

The Anglican bishop of Exeter, Michael Langrish, who also sits in the House of Lords, Britain's upper parliamentary chamber, said that knife crime, which some politicians have described as an "epidemic", should be tackled by a "long-term strategic approach".

Langrish said in July, "Addressing the issue of knife and other violent crime, it emphasises that what is really needed are long-term strategic partnerships between churches, community groups, the police, criminal justice partners and local authorities."

The majority of those killed in Britain as a result of the use of knives and guns, say sociologists, are young males, mainly of Afro-Caribbean descent. Researchers say that the crimes are related to drug pushing, gang rivalry based on members' post (zip) code addresses, or even just a "look" deemed to show a lack of respect.

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Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • England / UK

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