This week (20-26 May) is Knife Crime Awareness Week.
Knife crime is an issue that is close to my heart having previously volunteered at youth centres in Brixton. Before becoming a Minister at the Department for Transport, I was Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Knife Crime and Violence Reduction, and asked a number of Questions, and made various speeches, on this issue in the House of Commons. Some of these can be found here:
https://www.huwmerriman.org.uk/news/huw-commends-arsenals-no-more-red-campaign
https://www.huwmerriman.org.uk/news/watch-knife-crime-prevention
https://www.huwmerriman.org.uk/news/serious-violence-debate-my-speech-knife-crime
More broadly, the Government is committed to reducing knife crime, and I am pleased that hospital admissions of under-25s following an assault with a sharp object, the most reliable indicator for serious youth violence, have reduced by 25 per cent since December 2019. The Government has invested over £110 million in 2023-24 to fight knife crime, including investing in 20 violence reduction units, and funding hotspot policing in the most seriously affected areas.
I know that the maximum penalty for being in possession of a bladed or pointed article in public is 4 years imprisonment. When a person harms someone else with a knife, they may be charged with a range of serious offences, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences including life imprisonment.
I welcome too the introduction of Serious Violence Reduction Orders, a new civil order being piloted in four police forces, including here in Sussex. The orders provide the police the powers to stop and search convicted knife offenders. Further information can be found on the Sussex Police’s website:
The Government has also committed to banning certain types of large knives (such as zombie style knives and machetes), giving the police more powers to seize dangerous weapons, creating a new offence of possession of a bladed weapon with an intent to harm, and increasing sentences for those who import, manufacture or sell dangerous weapons to under 18s.
For young people in particular, I know that the Government has provided funding for earlier interventions to prevent youth offending and keep young people engaged in mainstream education.