SIR - It is disturbing that so many young people reportedly feel the need to carry knives. Shockingly, 20 per cent of those charged with knife attacks have been children aged between 10 and 17-years-old. The problem has even been described as now being at epidemic proportions and nobody knows all the reasons why, never mind the answers to how to deal with it.

Nevertheless, certain factors cannot have helped. Analysis of Department for Education figures has revealed councils have cut spending on youth services by on average £70 per child since 2010/11. Government spending on youth services has reduced by 70 per cent since 2010 which represents a cut of £880 million.

David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose