Idris Elba argues against mandatory prison sentences for carrying a knife

Actor hails tightening of ban on zombie-style knives in England and Wales but says there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to problem

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Idris Elba has argued against mandatory prison sentences for carrying a knife amid a deepening public discussion over how to tackle an epidemic of street violence.

The actor and campaigner said there was no “one size fits all” that would banish weapons, and warned against the criminalisation of young men caught up in a cycle of violence. His comments come the day after the family of the Nottingham stabbing victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar called for compulsory prison sentences if caught carrying a knife.