Your local FOCUS team want tough action to be taken against those caught selling knives to children and young people. 

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats revealed that half of all traders tested in Waltham Forest had attempted to sell knives to underage buyers.  

The worrying statistics come on the back of nationwide figures for prosecutions which reveal that, in the last five years, not one person has been sent to prison for the illegal sale of knives to children.

 Cllr Peter Woollcott says that the stats reveal “a completely inadequate deterrent to unscrupulous shop keepers who flout the law to sell these weapons to children and young people,”  

Cllr Peter Woollcott added: 

“The number of local traders who are apparently prepared to sell knifes to young people is extremely worrying. 

  “Liberal Democrats will be calling for officers to carry out further test purchasing programmes in an effort to really drive this message home.” 

“We believe that further tests must be carried out and that the courts must take a much stronger stand on this issue. 

“Cutting the supply of knives will be one of the most effective ways to reducing knife crime in the first place.”  

Local residents in Higham Hill are being hit hard by rocketing costs for food, energy and fuel.  

It doesn’t matter how much you earn, all of us are paying more when we buy basic groceries, pay the gas bill or fill up the car. Hardest hit of all are those on fixed incomes – especially pensioners. 

Higham Hill Cllr Patrick Smith said, “Everyone I meet is worried about rising prices. There is also a lot of fear about job losses and the threat of repossessions as house prices fall. People want to see action from Gordon Brown, but nothing seems to be happening.” “Gordon Brown and Labour are simply out of touch with real life in Higham Hill It is time for a change.”

 Local Lib Dems are fighting for a better deal for local people hardest hit by rising prices. They want to see a big rise in the basic pension to make sure older people can afford to heat their homes properly this winter. 

Cllr Patrick Smith added, “Pensioners have been let down by Conservative and now Labour Governments. We need to give older people a fair deal at last.” 

Conservative and Labour MPs are working together to STOP attempts to strengthen the Climate Change Bill.

They want to stop emission targets on shipping and aviation being included in the bill. But scientists and leading environmental organisations believe that such targets are vital to make the bill effective.

Liberal Democrat MPs have been working hard to make sure such targets are included. Their efforts have been praised by the Chief Executive of World Wildlife Fund UK David Nussbaum.

Higham Hill Cllr Sean Meiszner said, “Other parties may talk green, but they fail to deliver when it really matters. I am proud that Lib Dem MPs are leading the charge to tackle climate change in Parliament.”