Knife crime action demanded
An MP, who is chairwoman of the Youth Violence Commission, says it is time for the Government to accept its current knife crime strategy is failing
Statistics released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that knife crime has increased by 21 per cent in the last year, with London accounting for 38 per cent of the increase across England and Wales.
Vicky Foxcroft, MP Lewisham & Deptford, pictured, said: “The latest increase in knife crime show that the
Government’s current approach is clearly not working. Enough is enough – we need an urgent, united and societal response to address this rising epidemic and it is time that the Government wake up to its failing knife crime strategy.”
The Youth Violence Commission is calling on the Government to change its approach to knife crime and focus on addressing the root causes of violence instead. Later this year the commission is due to publish its final report with policy recommendations aimed at addressing the underlying drivers of youth violence.
Ms Foxcroft said: “We are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of evidence based policy solutions to tackle the root causes of youth violence.
“The drivers of violence are complex and the Government’s approach must be long-term, early intervention focused and cross-departmental – touching on the many different areas that impact a young person’s life.
“That means an approach which takes into account housing, health and education as well as policing and criminal justice.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, she called on the Prime Minister to meet with her to discuss a cross-party approach to address youth violence.
She also raised the YVC’s Safer Lives Survey, a nationwide survey of young people looking into the ways violence impacts on and manifests in their lives. The survey will be the first of its kind in the UK and its initial sample concludes next month.
As part of its on-going research, the YVC is also holding a number of parliamentary evidence sessions.
Next month the commission will be holding a session on early years, education and employability.
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