Menu
18/09/2008
Knife Crime Measures Introduced 'To Cut Red Tape'
Plans to fast-track measures to cut form filling in the 10 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) police forces were outlined today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
It is estimated these new measures could free up to at least 580,000 hours of police time over the next year, the equivalent of 320 police officers, allowing officers to spend more time on the streets actually tackling knife crime.
At a meeting with police chiefs from the 10 knife crime areas this morning, the Home Secretary effectively stepped up the Government's fight against knives by outlining new measures to cut red tape and reduce police paperwork.
The new measures would enable the TKAP forces to axe the lengthy "stop and account" form, which was reduced to combat racism, and replace it with Airwave police radio technology to record any encounter, including ethnicity and location.
Also, the level of form-filling when recording crime in the TKAP areas would be reduced by 80%.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smyth said: "I am determined to support our police officers so that they spend more time saving lives on our streets.
"Giving police the means to dramatically reduce form-filling bureaucracy in these 10 priority areas will free up valuable officer time to further clamp down on knife crime."
The other police forces involved in the scheme are Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley.
Today's meeting between the Home Secretary and Chief Constables comes as the latest update from the Metropolitan Police on the Tackling Knives Action Programme shows an increase in high visibility 'stop and search' activity with police making good use of new search technology.
In London, over 77,000 searches have been conducted since the start of Operation Blunt 2 with over 3,300 arrests and almost 2,200 knives recovered.
(JM)
It is estimated these new measures could free up to at least 580,000 hours of police time over the next year, the equivalent of 320 police officers, allowing officers to spend more time on the streets actually tackling knife crime.
At a meeting with police chiefs from the 10 knife crime areas this morning, the Home Secretary effectively stepped up the Government's fight against knives by outlining new measures to cut red tape and reduce police paperwork.
The new measures would enable the TKAP forces to axe the lengthy "stop and account" form, which was reduced to combat racism, and replace it with Airwave police radio technology to record any encounter, including ethnicity and location.
Also, the level of form-filling when recording crime in the TKAP areas would be reduced by 80%.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smyth said: "I am determined to support our police officers so that they spend more time saving lives on our streets.
"Giving police the means to dramatically reduce form-filling bureaucracy in these 10 priority areas will free up valuable officer time to further clamp down on knife crime."
The other police forces involved in the scheme are Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley.
Today's meeting between the Home Secretary and Chief Constables comes as the latest update from the Metropolitan Police on the Tackling Knives Action Programme shows an increase in high visibility 'stop and search' activity with police making good use of new search technology.
In London, over 77,000 searches have been conducted since the start of Operation Blunt 2 with over 3,300 arrests and almost 2,200 knives recovered.
(JM)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
01 December 2005
Government announces plans to drug test offenders
New powers to allow police to drug test certain offenders will come into force today, the Home Office has announced. The new measures, part of the Drugs Act, will be used initially in those police areas with the highest rates of drug-linked crime. The plans aim to reduce drug-related crime by forcing more drug abusers into treatment programmes.
Government announces plans to drug test offenders
New powers to allow police to drug test certain offenders will come into force today, the Home Office has announced. The new measures, part of the Drugs Act, will be used initially in those police areas with the highest rates of drug-linked crime. The plans aim to reduce drug-related crime by forcing more drug abusers into treatment programmes.
29 June 2010
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
06 April 2007
New measures to tackle violent crime introduced
New measures aimed at tackling gun and knife crime have come into force. Under the new measures, part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, it is now an offence to use someone to hide or carry a weapon, with a maximum sentence of four years in the case of knives and ten years in the case of guns.
New measures to tackle violent crime introduced
New measures aimed at tackling gun and knife crime have come into force. Under the new measures, part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, it is now an offence to use someone to hide or carry a weapon, with a maximum sentence of four years in the case of knives and ten years in the case of guns.
05 February 2009
Major Retailers Say 'No' To Knife Crime
Major British retailers have joined forces with the Government and the police as part of a new crackdown on knife crime launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today. The Home Office has been working with 21 retailers and the British Retail Consortium to encourage them to adopt best practice and limit availability of knives to under-18s.
Major Retailers Say 'No' To Knife Crime
Major British retailers have joined forces with the Government and the police as part of a new crackdown on knife crime launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today. The Home Office has been working with 21 retailers and the British Retail Consortium to encourage them to adopt best practice and limit availability of knives to under-18s.
12 January 2005
Police campaign targets Class A drug dealers
A three-month police campaign has been launched to clamp down on local Class A drug markets across the UK. Entitled 'Operation Crackdown', the scheme, which involves 32 police forces in England and Wales, aims to close drug dens and disrupt local drug markets, as well as also seize illegal firearms and bring dealers to justice.
Police campaign targets Class A drug dealers
A three-month police campaign has been launched to clamp down on local Class A drug markets across the UK. Entitled 'Operation Crackdown', the scheme, which involves 32 police forces in England and Wales, aims to close drug dens and disrupt local drug markets, as well as also seize illegal firearms and bring dealers to justice.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
