Knife violence is at a seven-year high. It is the deadliest threat youngsters face.

Sajid Javid has listened to our Beat the Blades campaign and is serious about tackling the bloodshed.

Cops seized 4,100 lethal blades in a week-long blitz. It will save countless lives. Tomorrow, a second crackdown starts. But it is only a quick fix. We need to address why young men turn to knives in the first place.

Our feature today about Anthony Joshua’s old boxing club shows the importance of sport in getting youngsters off the streets.

Boxing gives kids a purpose and as the world heavyweight champ says, it also teaches boys how to become men by instilling discipline and respect.

Mr Javid has vowed to double the amount of funding available for the Early Intervention Youth Fund to £22million.

It is a welcome start but it’s likely more will be needed. Supporting youth sports clubs in deprived areas is vital for stamping out knife crime.

There is, of course, no overnight solution for a problem which has been allowed to stew for decades.

But the Government must do everything it can.