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Knife Crime
14 April 2026
Lead MP
Sarah Jones
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsNHSMental Health
Other Contributors: 30
At a Glance
Sarah Jones raised concerns about knife crime in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Before the announcement, Sarah Jones echoed the Ho [2D [K Home Secretary’s statement on the Southport attack. She then made a stateme [7D [K statement on the Government's plan to halve knife crime in a decade as per [K their manifesto commitment. This initiative aims to address a destructive c [1D [K cycle of fear and violence that forces young people into carrying weapons f [1D [K for safety, resulting in tragic losses of life. Despite progress such as ba [2D [K bans on zombie-style knives and ninja swords, restoring neighbourhood polic [5D [K policing, and shutting down over 2,700 county lines last year, knife crime [K and homicides remain significant issues with recent fatal cases noted. Sinc [4D [K Since the general election, knife crime has decreased by 8% and homicides b [1D [K by 27%. The plan includes four key areas: supporting young people through i [1D [K investment in youth services and mental health support; stopping those at r [1D [K risk from turning to knife crime via targeted school partnerships and count [5D [K county lines programme; ensuring justice for victims with robust policing m [1D [K measures; and ending the cycle of repeat harm by strengthening the youth ju [2D [K justice system. The minister emphasised that while individual policies are [K crucial, a whole-of-Government approach is necessary to build a safer futur [5D [K future.
John Smith
Con
London
Question
The MP questioned whether the current plan provides enou [4D [K enough support to areas with the highest knife crime rates. He highlighted [K London's disproportionate share of offences and asked how the Government wo [2D [K would ensure these high-impact strategies reach communities in need.
Minister reply
Sarah Jones responded that the Government’s new k [1D [K knife crime concentrations fund will target surges in policing where knife [K crime is most prevalent, ensuring additional resources are allocated to are [3D [K areas with higher rates. This includes support for local police forces and [K violence reduction units.
Alice Green
Lab
Manchester
Question
The MP asked about the timeline for launching Young Futu [4D [K Futures hubs across high-risk areas as mentioned in the plan, emphasising t [1D [K the importance of early intervention to prevent future knife crime.
Minister reply
Sarah Jones confirmed that 50 Young Futures hubs [K will be launched by 2028 with phased rollouts starting this year. The initi [5D [K initiative aims to integrate wellbeing support and careers guidance for you [3D [K young people at risk.
Matt Vickers
Lab
Question
Halving knife crime is a welcome measure, but the Labour [6D [K Labour Government points out that while police-recorded knife-enabled crime [5D [K crime has risen post-election and London bears an outsized burden of 30% of [2D [K of all incidents despite being home to only 15% of the population. The plan [4D [K plan's Knife Crime Concentrations Fund addresses hotspots with increased po [2D [K policing but fails without sufficient stop-and-search powers and officer nu [2D [K numbers. Shadow Minister Vickers proposes tripling use of stop-and-search, [K section 60 stop-and-search in high-crime areas based on a single suspicion [K indicator, and hiring 10,000 new officers as opposed to the government’s re [2D [K reduction of 1,300 since taking power. Sentencing changes under the Sentenc [7D [K Sentencing Act 2026 allowing earlier release for knife crime offenders furt [4D [K further worry him, making him question how such plans will be effective wit [3D [K without stronger enforcement measures like custodial sentences.
Minister reply
The Minister thanks Matt Vickers for welcoming th [2D [K the target to halve knife crime and the plan’s provisions. She notes that t [1D [K those convicted of serious offences involving knives will still face prison [6D [K prison terms but highlights reforms under the Crime and Policing Bill intro [5D [K introducing a new offence of possessing a knife with intent, carrying a sev [3D [K seven-year maximum sentence, aimed at addressing juvenile possession cases [K where no action was previously taken. The Minister also points to an 18% in [2D [K increase in police numbers deployed to neighbourhoods over the past year al [2D [K alongside investments in AI and technology to enhance officer efficiency, e [1D [K emphasising focus on outcomes rather than fixed numbers of officers.
Sam Carling
Con
Question
Following a tragic stabbing incident in his constituency [12D [K constituency, Sam Carling seeks details on how the government's ambition to [2D [K to halve knife crime will impact Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. He querie [6D [K queries ongoing work understanding regional variations where knife crime tr [2D [K trends differ from national decreases.
Minister reply
The Minister extends thoughts to those affected b [1D [K by recent violence in Orton and confirms arrests made following such incide [6D [K incidents. She discusses extensive funding allocations aimed at identifying [11D [K identifying knife-crime hotspots across the country, working with local par [3D [K partners and police forces to understand specific causes and provide suppor [6D [K support for young people involved in crime while addressing regional discre [6D [K discrepancies where knife crime is increasing.
Luke Taylor
Lib Dem
Wallington and Ditton
Question
Welcomes the strategy, praises Ben Kinsella Trust's work [4D [K work, and questions whether the funding for measures is secure. Asks if the [3D [K the Government can confirm that 13,000 new police officers are not merely r [1D [K redeployed existing ones. Calls for a public health approach involving vari [4D [K various stakeholders.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the Ben Kinsella Trust's work; Home [K Office funding amounts to £130 million with cross-Government investment. Co [2D [K Confirms that 13,000 police officers include new hires, community support o [1D [K officers, and redeployed staff; technology will free up time for more front [5D [K frontline officers.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith
Question
Asks if restricting sales of pointed knives to rounded-t [9D [K rounded-tip versions could limit injuries caused by domestic and impulsive [K violence.
Minister reply
Agrees that kitchen knives used in domestic and i [1D [K impulsive violence should be reconsidered; evidence supports the use of rou [3D [K rounded-end knives, and manufacturers are introducing such designs.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Asks about deterrence measures for knife crimes and sugg [4D [K suggests a campaign warning that offenders will likely be caught. Also inqu [4D [K inquires about the sale of knives online.
Minister reply
Confirms high detection rate for knife crime; tes [3D [K testing communication techniques to influence potential perpetrators. Intro [5D [K Introduces legislation on bulk purchases of knives, with police teams inves [5D [K investigating online sales.
Question
Expresses condolences over Jamie Collins' fatal stabbing [8D [K stabbing and asks how the new knife crime plan will reduce youth knife crim [4D [K crime.
Minister reply
Offers condolences to the family; actions include [7D [K include DCMS's leadership on 50 Young Futures hubs, violence reduction unit [4D [K units with £66 million funding, and support for young people in possession [K of knives.
Question
Following the Government’s consultation on knife sales, [K will the Minister reassure my constituents, the police and the public that [K the Government will put forward a knife licensing scheme?
Minister reply
We are putting in place interventions through the [3D [K the Crime and Policing Bill to strengthen age verification for knives and e [1D [K ensure online companies remove violent content. We have also consulted on a [1D [K a licensing scheme and are currently reviewing it.
Jim McMahon
Lab
Oldham West and Royton
Question
Given the overwhelming evidence of youth knife crime in [K Oldham, can Oldham be urgently considered for the Young Futures hubs progra [6D [K programme?
Minister reply
The Young Futures hubs will be located in areas m [1D [K most affected by knife crime. Greater Manchester is already investing heavi [5D [K heavily in addressing county lines and safeguarding young people.
Question
When it comes to banning zombie knives, we know that the [3D [K they account for less than 4% of all fatal stabbings. What measures are in [K place to prevent the use of kitchen knives?
Minister reply
We are putting in place interventions such as age [3D [K age verification checks and bulk purchase reporting to control knife sales. [6D [K sales. We also have a duty on social media companies to report illegal knif [4D [K knife sales.
Question
Will the Minister update the curriculum from September s [1D [K so that every child receives knife violence prevention education in school? [7D [K school?
Minister reply
There is new guidance on violence prevention for [K schools, and we are targeting 250 high-risk schools with additional support [7D [K support.
Question
Can the Minister increase stop-and-search powers of the [K Met police in London?
Minister reply
Stop and search is an important tool, but its use [3D [K use must be effective. The Mayor of London has invested more in policing th [2D [K than ever before.
Question
Will the Minister assure me that equipping young people [K with knowledge about knife crime prevention is part of our strategy and wil [3D [K will be supported in my constituency?
Minister reply
Every part of the country, including Bournemouth, [12D [K Bournemouth, will benefit from the action plan. We are making interventions [13D [K interventions across the whole country and funding for local youth hub proj [4D [K projects.
Question
While I of course welcome the statement and any attempt [K to reduce and tackle knife crime, does the Minister not agree that without [K saturation stop and search, and without immediate custody of anyone found i [1D [K in possession of a knife without a valid reason, the rest is just white noi [3D [K noise?
Minister reply
I welcome the hon. Lady’s welcoming of the statem [6D [K statement—it is appreciated. Stop and search is important but must be evide [5D [K evidence-based and targeted. We want more intelligence-led stop and search [K and multiple interventions to prevent crime from happening in the first pla [3D [K place.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
Bedfordshire police welcomes the Government’s plan to re [2D [K refer all child knife possession cases to youth justice services. Can the M [1D [K Minister outline how the new national co-ordination unit will crack down on [2D [K on illegal online knife sales?
Minister reply
The NHS and youth workers in A&Es are playing a r [1D [K role. The National Knife Crime Centre will investigate the sale of knives o [1D [K online with £1.7 million funding to tackle illegal sales.
Question
My constituents keep telling me that they want more visi [4D [K visible local policing, but south Somerset is often overlooked. When will t [1D [K they see proper funding for more visible community policing and accessible [K youth services?
Minister reply
We have already put 3,000 more police on the stre [4D [K streets, an 18% rise from what we inherited when entering government. We be [2D [K believe that the right place for our police officers is out on our streets [K tackling everyday crime.
Battersea
Question
Will the Minister honour her predecessor’s commitment to [2D [K to visit Carney’s Community, a fantastic organisation in my constituency do [2D [K doing incredible work to deter young people from a life of violence and cri [3D [K crime?
Minister reply
I am very happy to fulfil any commitment that my [K predecessor made and would like to see what is happening in my hon. Friend' [7D [K Friend's constituency.
Question
Will the Minister set out what immediate, targeted actio [5D [K action her Department is or will be taking in areas experiencing clusters o [1D [K of knife crime, such as Dewsbury and Batley?
Minister reply
Our concentrations fund of £26 million targets ar [2D [K areas where there is a high concentration of knife crime. We are also inves [5D [K investing in neighbourhood policing and supporting children through interve [7D [K interventions in schools.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
What is the Minister doing as part of this strategy to e [1D [K ensure that our youth organisations can keep the lights on and do their imp [3D [K important work?
Minister reply
The funding for youth justice interventions is lo [2D [K long-term. Local authorities have now got long-term funding too, though vio [3D [K violence reduction units' funding has been just for this year.
Question
Will she commit to ensuring that grassroots organisation [12D [K organisation and those with real-life street experience are empowered to pl [2D [K play a greater role in delivering lifesaving work?
Minister reply
We will continue to support local grassroots orga [4D [K organisations through violence reduction units and other vehicles to ensure [6D [K ensure they have the impact we need.
Salford and Eccles
Question
Welcomed the Minister's comments, highlighting the issue [5D [K issue of knife crime as a public health concern linked to cuts in youth ser [3D [K services. Asked how the strategy addresses structural drivers for areas not [3D [K not receiving one of 50 Young Futures hubs and whether she can meet to disc [4D [K discuss Salford Youth Zone.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the decimation of youth services ove [3D [K over the past decade, committed to rebuilding infrastructure through variou [6D [K various initiatives including mental health support in schools and 50 youth [5D [K youth hubs. Offered to have a chat with her about what Salford youth club i [1D [K is doing.
Question
Welcomed Government’s plan to halve knife crime over the [3D [K the next decade, emphasised importance of supporting young people and youth [5D [K youth services. Asked if Government will collaborate with existing programm [8D [K programmes focusing on multi-agency partnerships.
Minister reply
Interested in work being done by Luton Youth Part [4D [K Partnership Service and willing to talk more about her partnership. Not try [3D [K trying to reinvent what is working but support existing organisations, runn [4D [K running various pilots for early intervention.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Question
Paid tribute to the Minister's work and acknowledged vol [3D [K voluntary and community groups doing fantastic work in her constituency. As [2D [K Asked about confidence that school safety officers will return after being [K withdrawn.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the important role of organisations [K such as Break Tha Cycle and Street Fathers, committed to increasing neighbo [7D [K neighbourhood police officers who can go into schools.
Question
Tributed Minister's work on knife crime in Croydon. Aske [4D [K Asked how plan strengthens partnerships at local level.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the need for a whole-system approach [8D [K approach, emphasised the importance of neighbourhood policing and live faci [4D [K facial recognition technology to tackle crime.
Question
Asked about thorough case reviews when children commit s [1D [K serious crimes, in reference to a 13-year-old boy convicted of killing Kory [4D [K Kory.
Minister reply
Agreed with the need for proper reviews and under [5D [K understanding, while acknowledging that responsibility lies with Scottish G [1D [K Government and local partners.
Question
Highlighted work done by Derby in tackling knife crime i [1D [K involving joined-up response from schools, council, police and community or [2D [K organisations. Asked how the plan will strengthen these partnerships.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the need for a partnership approach, [9D [K approach, committed to reviewing the landscape of community safety partners [8D [K partnerships to ensure everyone is working towards a single goal.
Question
Asked about ways bereaved families can play their part i [1D [K in delivering the action plan.
Minister reply
Offered support through various organisations inc [3D [K including violence reduction units and local violence reduction plans, enco [4D [K encouraging community-led response.
Question
Requested more resources for frontline policing in Cleve [5D [K Cleveland due to high deprivation and severe crime prevalence. Highlighted [K 48 new police personnel joining neighbourhood roles.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the need for reforming the outdated [K police funding formula, committed to reviewing it to make it fit for purpos [6D [K purpose.
Shadow Comment
Matt Vickers
Shadow Comment
Matt Vickers thanked Sarah Jones for her statement bu [2D [K but criticised the increase in knife-enabled crime since the election and h [1D [K highlighted London's disproportionate share of knife offences. He advocated [9D [K advocated for effective stop and search powers, suggesting tripling its use [3D [K use and implementing section 60 suspicionless stops. However, he noted that [4D [K that officer numbers have decreased under the current government by 1,300, [K a significant factor in enforcement effectiveness. Vickers also pointed out [3D [K out concerns about early release eligibility under the Sentencing Act 2026 [K for knife crime offenders, suggesting insufficient custodial sentences. Whi [3D [K While acknowledging important areas covered in the plan like education and [K cultural work on violence reduction units and county lines programmes, he s [1D [K stressed the need for stronger enforcement through appropriate prison sente [5D [K sentences.
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