Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Knife Crime

Monday 13 January 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Recent data showed a sharp rise in serious violent crime in Scotland, particularly in urban areas.
  • The Government aims to halve knife crime over the next decade, focusing on preventing young people from obtaining and carrying knives.
  • The Home Secretary condemned the stabbing of a nurse in an emergency department in Oldham, highlighting the importance of protecting health and social care workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joani Reid Lab East Kilbride and Strathaven
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Scotland
Context

Data showed a sharp rise in serious violent crime in Scotland, particularly affecting cities and towns. Police Scotland has the lowest officer numbers since 2008 due to chronic underfunding by the SNP Government.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, and of course my sympathies also go out to that mother this weekend. Recently published data showed a sharp rise in serious violent crime in Scotland, particularly in our cities and towns. Too many of my constituents feel unsafe in East Kilbride town centre and the Village, particularly at night. Meanwhile, the SNP Government’s chronic underfunding of Police Scotland has resulted in officer numbers being at their lowest level since 2008. Does the Secretary of State agree that the SNP now has the funding in place to increase police numbers, and that protecting our community and citizens should be its priority?

Answer from The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)

My hon. Friend is right to say that the Scottish Government have a significant increase in funding, so they can take action to improve public services. This Government have made it a mission to halve knife crime over the next decade, including taking action to get dangerous weapons, such as zombie knives and ninja swords, off our streets by preventing the unlawful sale of these lethal blades, particularly to children.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not directly address whether SNP has funding in place for increasing police numbers or if it should be their priority.

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Q2 Yuan Yang Lab Earley and Woodley
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Christmas period in Whitley was disrupted by a serious threat of knife crime. Reading has experienced several tragic incidents over the past few years.

Question

My constituents in Whitley had their Christmas disrupted by an alarming threat of knife crime. We have seen too many tragedies of this kind in Reading over the last few years, so I wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s mission to halve knife crime. I have applied for my Earley and Woodley constituency to be a trial location for the new respect orders. Will the Home Secretary meet me and my constituents to discuss how we can tackle the root problems that cause people, particularly young people, to carry knives?

Answer from The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)

The Policing Minister and I will happily talk further to my hon. Friend. She is right that we need to prevent young people from obtaining and carrying knives in the first place, as well as making sure there is swift intervention. We are also taking action, working with police forces across the country, to tackle knife-enabled robbery, which is one of the areas that has seen the biggest increases in recent years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide a direct commitment for a meeting but expressed willingness to discuss further.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Crime & Law Enforcement Northern Ireland
Context

Over the past five years, there have been 900 convictions for knife-related crimes in Northern Ireland. The PSNI is concerned about the increases seen recently.

Question

I thank the Home Secretary for her response. Over the past five years, there have been 900 convictions for knife-related crimes in Northern Ireland. There is an epidemic in Northern Ireland, with almost 200 convictions in the last year alone. What discussions has the Home Secretary had with the relevant authorities, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to help us address this issue?

Answer from The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)

The hon. Member will know that the PSNI takes this issue extremely seriously. The issues of knife crime are devastating to families, and he is right to be deeply concerned about the increases we have seen. Frankly, it is still far too easy for young people to get hold of knives. That is why we asked Commander Stephen Clayman to conduct a detailed review of the online sale and delivery of knives, and we expect his report back shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide specific details on discussions with PSNI but acknowledged their concerns and actions taken.

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Q4 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party South Antrim
Policing & Resources NHS Safeguarding & DBS
Context

A nurse was stabbed in an emergency department in Oldham over the weekend.

Question

A nurse was stabbed in an emergency department in Oldham over the weekend. Will the Home Secretary join me in condemning any attack on our health and social care workers, and especially the one at the weekend?

Answer from The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)

The hon. Member makes an extremely important point. Our public servants, particularly our nursing and medical staff, work to save lives, support people and help patients. They do so trusting that the people who come to see them are asking for their help. He is right to talk about the devastating attack at the Oldham hospital, and we are all thinking about the nurse and all those working in the hospital, as well as about the police investigation that I know is under way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary expressed sympathy but did not provide a direct condemnation of the attack or attacks on healthcare workers.

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