Naming teens who murder 'would tackle knife crime'

FORMER police officers are calling for children who commit murder to be routinely named, in the hope that it could stem the teenage knife crime epidemic.

- Jon Austin 

It comes after judge Dame Amanda Yip ruled the two teenage killers of tragic Brianna Ghey can be identified when they are sentenced in February due to the "exceptional" circumstances of her death.

The 16-year-old was lured to a park, in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire, on February 11 by a 15-year-old girl she thought was her friend.

But a boy, also 15, was lying in wait and the pair stabbed her 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back in a senseless attack for kicks they had plotted via text.

The two, known as Girl X and Boy Y during a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, tried to blame each other but were both found guilty and face life terms.

Under-18s are granted anonymity during criminal prosecutions but judges have discretion to lift it for the most serious offences.

Historically, murder was seen as the offence where children were most likely to be identified in the hope it would act as a deterrent for others.