Few people who use violence now do so with their fists, it seems. The concept of a "fair fight" belongs largely in the past. Nowadays there is an increasing tendency, particularly among the young, to stab or batter an opponent or victim or anyone else who might become unwittingly involved.

Criticism is sometimes levelled against people who fail to intervene when they see someone being harassed or attacked, or any other crime being committed. The reason, though, is obvious. Too many of those who have been prompted to "have a go" have paid for it with serious, and sometimes even fatal, stab wounds.

Among them was head teacher Philip Lawrence whose widow, Frances, is backing the new West Yorkshire amnesty aimed at reducing the number of offensive weapons on the streets - an initiative coming in the wake of the success of last year's imitation firearms amnesty, which netted 63 fake guns.

It is clear that something needs to be done to reduce the availability of knives and coshes. They are used in more than 4,000 incidents in West Yorkshire each year - and the number is rising. Even swords kept as souvenirs are being stolen in burglaries and used by criminals as lethal weapons.

It is impossible to prevent determined criminals getting hold of weapons of violence. But a successful amnesty, by reducing the number of knives and coshes in circulation, should make it more difficult for young people to embrace the culture which leads them to expect that because other people carry weapons, they should do the same.