Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Knife Crime and Serious Violence

Monday 5 September 2022 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Hunt received a response acknowledging the success of the safer streets fund bid in his area, securing 8.9 million in additional police funding.
  • Hilary Benn questioned the legality of purchasing machetes for adults over 18, to which the Minister responded that a serious weapons review is underway to address such issues.
  • The Minister reported that the Home Secretary can take pride in reducing national burglary by 24%, neighbourhood crime by 33%, and vehicle offences by 28% since 2019, along with removing 72,000 weapons from the streets.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Hunt
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP is concerned about high-profile knife attacks in Ipswich.

Question

What steps she is taking to tackle knife crime and serious violence. I am pleased that we have secured extra funding from the safer streets fund, and that we are getting our uplift to the 20,000 officers but does the Minister agree that our UK shared prosperity fund bid to get even more police presence during the day would help to tackle knife crime? Does he also agree that it is right that we look at the national police funding formula in order to provide long-term fairer funding for Suffolk police?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who pays laser-like attention to crime and policing issues in his area. He was at the forefront of arguing the case for the safer streets bid, which has, fortunately, been successful. It is very welcome that his area is seeing £8.9 million of additional police funding and we have seen 114 extra officers recruited.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not address the specific ask about the UK shared prosperity fund bid or reviewing national police funding formula

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Tom Hunt
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

High-profile knife attacks in Ipswich during the summer.

Question

Over the summer we had two very high-profile knife attacks in Ipswich. We know that this is inter-gang violence—it is often members of each gang who are targeted—but it often erupts in a public space and has a chilling effect within communities. Does the Minister agree that our UK shared prosperity fund bid to get even more police presence during the day would help to tackle knife crime? Does he also agree that it is right that we look at the national police funding formula in order to provide long-term fairer funding for Suffolk police?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

Building on the work that is already happening, those resources will come together to help to continue to drive down crime in his area. That is a priority for this Government, as it is for him, and I know he will continue to follow this closely.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not address the specific ask about UK shared prosperity fund bid or reviewing national police funding formula

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Hilary Benn Lab Leeds South
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

A constituent was attacked with a machete and there have been several further incidents.

Question

Why is it still legal for anyone over the age of 18 to go into a shop and buy a machete?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his question. It is important to note that since 2019 we have seen 72,000 weapons taken off our streets, but we cannot be complacent on this, which is why Ministers are looking at this issue of serious weapons, with a serious weapons review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not directly address the legality or rationale behind purchasing machetes

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 James Gray Con
Justice & Courts
Context

A tragic case in the constituency of Ellie Gould, who was murdered by a knife-wielding boyfriend.

Question

What discussions has he had with his colleagues in the Ministry of Justice about guidelines for sentencing? When can we expect the results of that consultation to come out?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. We do have Ministers who are joint between the Home Office and the MOJ, which means that we have been able to look at some of these issues in the round. What I hope can give him some reassurance is the fact that, through serious violence reduction orders, which we are introducing through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, we are seeing a greater likelihood of people being caught, of being before the court and of receiving a custodial sentence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify when results will be released or details of discussion with Ministry of Justice

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Sarah Jones Lab Croydon West
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

On the Home Secretary's watch, crime rates have risen and police morale has declined.

Question

What does the Minister think the Home Secretary is most proud of: criminals laughing in our face as they get away with it, or thousands more people across this country blighted by crime?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

I think it is fair to say that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, who I believe has done a sterling job in the role, can be proud of seeing burglary down by 24% nationally, neighbourhood crime down by 33% and vehicle offences down by 28%. We have got 72,000 weapons off our streets since 2019.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email