"An issue that transcends party lines", statement on knife crime
4 March 2019 (updated on 4 March 2019)
Shadow Policing Minister Louise Haigh has asked the Government to make a statement on knife crime following the recent rise in youth violence.
The urgent question follows recent incidents of stabbings involving young people, including two high profile murders over the weekend in London and Greater Manchester.
The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, replied to the urgent question and said:
“There is no hiding from this issue […] serious violence is on the rise, communities are being torn apart and families are losing their children.”
He went on to say that there are no shortcuts or single solution to the issue and set out a range of measures which would help tackle knife crime. These include a law enforcement response, early intervention, police funding, the Drugs Misuse Review, and the announcement of a new statutory public health duty to combat violent crime.
Louise Haigh, the Shadow Home Office Minister for Police, replied to the Home Secretary and said that the House was united in grief at the loss of young lives to knife crime. She went on to call on the Prime Minister to step in and provide national leadership, asking;
“Will she step up and convene a crisis summit, backed with emergency funding.”
The Shadow Secretary asked for clarity on the Government's position on a public health approach to tackling knife crime, and asked for details and scheduling of the promised initiatives.
- Watch Parliament TV: urgent question on knife crime
- Read Commons Hansard: urgent question on knife crime
- Read Commons Library briefing on knives and offensive weapons
Image: iStock
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