Auckland last week when former Gisborne man, 44-year-old Austin Bernard Hemmings was stabbed while trying to help a woman who was being attacked.

Auckland last week when former Gisborne man, 44-year-old Austin Bernard Hemmings was stabbed while trying to help a woman who was being attacked.As he was leaving work, homewards bound, IAG broker manager Mr Hemmings went to the aid of a woman in a carpark who was being punched.The attacker turned on this Good Samaritan and stabbed him in the chest.Shocking! And it is not just something happening in New Zealand. There are concerns in many countries at the extent in which knife crime is causing havoc on city streets.In England last week there was a huge public response as everyone from the Prime Minister down backed a walk and rally in London's Hyde Park.The thousands of ordinary people who took part showed society isn't broken, despite fatuous claims to the contrary.But the blade toll is terrifying, a senseless loss of life, leaving parents worried their youngsters will be tragically killed.Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his support in an emotional Downing Street mini-summit with the mums and dads of victims.We feel that governments have a key role to play by ensuring the police have the necessary powers to take knives off our streets.But we all have a role to play and people power ruled as law-abiding citizens from across the country converging on London.The message was clear: Stop Knives, Save Lives.We should follow suit here in New Zealand where many lives have been cut short by senseless attacks from thugs using knives, often against unarmed people.Changing these attitudes and patterns of violence won't be easy. But it is time to look again at the way we teach young people about the value of life and the stupidity of carrying weapons. Social order cannot be compromised!