Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Tackling Knife Crime — [Ian Paisley in the Chair]

20 July 2021 · 6 other contributors · 13,373 words

Opened by Sarah Owen Lab Luton North

Responding minister: Kit Malthouse

Policing & ResourcesCrime & Law Enforcement

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sarah Owen raised concerns about tackling knife crime — [ian paisley in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Sarah Owen is concerned about the rise in knife-related crime in Bedfordshire, noting an increase from 397 offences in 2010 to 530 by the last reported year.
  • Owen highlights that funding cuts and austerity measures have reduced youth services and police resources, potentially leading to more young people being exploited and distrusting authorities.
  • Owen asks the government to provide extra funding for youth services and measures to address mental health issues among young people, particularly in the context of the pandemic.

Key requests to Government

Owen asks the Minister for extra funding for youth services that prevent crime rather than just tackling it after the fact. She also inquires about measures to address mental health issues among young people, especially following the pandemic. Owen further questions the commitment to a public health approach to knife crime prevention and seeks a re-evaluation of the police funding formula for Bedfordshire to better reflect urban needs.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Sarah Owen Lab Luton North

Sarah Owen is deeply concerned about the recent rise in knife-related crime in Bedfordshire, particularly following the tragic death of a young person named Humza Hussain. She notes that there were 397 offences involving a knife in Bedfordshire in 2010, which climbed to 530 by last year—an increase of over a third. Owen highlights that funding cuts and austerity measures have resulted in significant reductions in youth services and police resources, leading to increased exploitation of young people and mistrust towards authorities. She mentions Barnardo's figures indicating that over one-fifth of knife-related offences involve individuals under 18.

Other contributors (6)
  • Allan Dorans SNP Glasgow North

    Mr Allan Dorans highlighted the rise in knife crime, particularly affecting young people and disadvantaged communities. He cited statistics from England and Wales showing a 6% increase in offences involving sharp instruments in the year ending March 2020 compared to the previous year. He praised Scotland's violence reduction unit for its success in reducing homicides and violent crime, suggesting that similar public health approaches could be applied elsewhere in the UK.

  • Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central

    Mr Esterson commended his colleague for an excellent introduction and shared heartbreaking stories from Sefton, highlighting the need for long-term funding to build trust with young people. He emphasised the importance of multi-sector collaboration and specific interventions like bleed control kits designed by Dr Misra at Aintree University Hospital.

  • Florence Eshalomi Lab Co-op Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

    The MP highlighted the devastating impact of knife crime, particularly on young black males, citing a recent stabbing in her constituency. She discussed how child criminal exploitation is often not recognised as victimisation but instead seen through a punitive lens. The MP called for a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to ensure consistent safeguarding responses across regions and advocated for serious violence partnerships that cover both criminal exploitation and youth violence. She also stressed the importance of funding for youth services, which she argued are essential in preventing violence by engaging disengaged young people. Inquired if there will be a full evaluation before serious violence reduction orders are rolled out across the country.

  • Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East

    Ms Daby highlighted the impact of austerity and lack of youth provision on knife crime, particularly in deprived areas. She pointed to a 40% decrease in funding for youth services between 2014 and 2018 as part of this issue. She advocated for more investment in after-school clubs, community alternatives to custody, and better support for teachers to keep young people safe from crime.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    The MP discussed the ongoing issue of knife crime, noting that it is a complex social problem impacting all regions in the UK. He highlighted an incident involving his son being robbed with a fish-knife and questioned why individuals use knives for crimes. Jim Shannon also mentioned statistics on knife offences and hospital admissions due to knife crime. He called for mandatory resources to address the issue, emphasizing the need for partnerships between education and policing systems. Asked if the need for a strategy or partnership between the Minister's Department and education is part of the current strategy, believing it to be core to changing mindsets and improving the situation.

  • Sarah Jones Lab Croydon West

    She congratulated colleagues for their thoughtful contributions and emphasised the need to keep people safe. She highlighted practical measures like bleed control kits, police-community relationships, and prevention through education. She criticised cuts to services, noting a 72% increase in A&E admissions for knife wounds among 16-18 year olds since 2014. Asked for an intervention from the Minister.

Government Response

Kit Malthouse

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. The Government recognises the importance of tackling knife crime and has taken significant steps towards it. These include recruiting nearly 9,000 police officers, providing surge funds focused on areas with high prevalence of knife crime and violence, and rolling out GRIP funding for targeted interventions in hotspots. We are also in year three of violence reduction units across the country, which have received significant funding, reaching about 12,000 young people through eight interventions in Bedfordshire alone. The Youth Endowment Fund aims to invest in transforming our understanding of what works and ensure that all money spent is on trained, professional therapeutic intervention. Additionally, legislative measures like the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill include the serious violence duty, which places a statutory obligation on partners to prevent violence, plan, understand data, and leverage funding streams. The bill also includes serious violence reduction orders and knife crime prevention orders designed to discourage and deter individuals from carrying weapons while steering them in the right direction. Lastly, the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 has been enacted to ban a range of knives and firearms, with anyone possessing these weapons facing up to 10 years in prison.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy