Brian Sims
Editor
Brian Sims
Editor
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has launched a new coalition designed to tackle knife crime and stop young people from joining violent gangs. Endorsed by actor Idris Elba OBE, the anti-knife crime campaigner and co-founder of The Elba Hope Foundation, the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime will bring together campaign groups, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who’ve been impacted and community leaders.
The coalition will also include technology companies and sports organisations as well as partners in the healthcare sector, the education sector and the police.
In practice, it will work with experts to develop an extensive understanding of what causes young people to be dragged into violence, providing vital evidence that will drive Government policy and hold the Government to account on its knife crime commitments.
On launch day, the Prime Minister met with the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Idris Elba and campaign groups at the first annual Knife Crime Summit, which took place at Downing Street. There, the Prime Minister set out how this mission is personal for him. After years spent working as the Director of Public Prosecutions, he has seen first-hand how violence on our streets can destroy families and leave communities devastated.
The Prime Minister will reassure families that they can have confidence in his determination, and that he has a plan for action, not just talk. Indeed, Keir Starmer has pledged that he will “pull the levers needed” to halve knife crime, including bringing in new legislation.
Legislation is underway to ban ninja swords. The Government will also strengthen the laws around the online sales of knives, making sure the rules in place to stop dangerous weapons from ending up in the hands of young people are rigidly enforced.
Commander Stephen Clayman, the national policing lead for knife crime, has been tasked with heading a rapid review to understand how these weapons are sold online and delivered to those under 18 years of age, identifying gaps in legislation and the most effective ways to stop this from happening. Clayman will report back to the Home Secretary by the end of the year.
National crisis
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Knife crime is a national crisis that we will tackle head on. We will take this moment to come together as a country – politicians, the families of victims, young people themselves, community leaders and tech companies – and halve knife crime, while also taking back our streets.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: “We will not sit back while precious lives are being lost and young people’s futures are destroyed. That is why we are making it a mission for the country to halve knife crime in a decade.”
Cooper continued: “Making sure weapons are off our streets and ensuring there are tough and clear consequences for violence are vital. We also need to prevent young people from heading down this path. That means offering them more hope and more opportunities. This coalition is crucial, bringing together as it does those who’ve fought so passionately for change and who know how devastating knife crime can be.”
Idris Elba OBE responded: “We need to tackle the root causes of knife crime, not just the symptoms. The coalition is a positive step towards rehabilitating our communities from the inside out.”
Commander Stephen Clayman commented: “We welcome the Government’s further commitment to tackling knife crime, which continues to blight the lives of individuals, families and whole communities. Despite so much brilliant work that’s ongoing around the country, policing cannot solve this problem alone.”
Clayman noted: “Knives are far too easily accessible, with online sellers being a key focus of our work over the last year. I look forward to leading the review into online supply and continuing to work in close partnership with Government, retailers and the third sector to find ways in which we can bring meaningful and long-term change that will make our streets safer for everyone.”
Ten-year plan
The coalition announcement is the first step in the Government’s ten-year plan to tackle knife crime, which will be central to its mission of keeping the nation’s streets safe. It will build on the new Young Futures Programme, already set out by the Home Office, to offer young people a pathway out of crime.
This will create prevention partnerships for young people most at risk of being dragged into violence and bring together the right services to help them lead safe and healthy lives.
Young Futures Programme ‘hubs’ will be set up to offer young people a safe place to go where they can be diverted into positive activities and access the services they need.
