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11/03/2009
Extra £5m To Clamp Down On Knife Crime
An extra £5 million to tackle knife crime has been announced by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The new funding will be used to extend the government's 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) for another year and to include two new police force areas: Kent and Hampshire.
Maintaining this targeted approach to tackling knives and serious youth violence is part of the Government's wider plan to crack down on the small minority of young people who commit violent crime.
Recently published NHS data for 2007/08, which pre-dates TKAP, showed an 8% reduction in the overall number of admissions to hospital for assault by sharp object.
Provisional Home Office TKAP management information shows that since June 2008, police have conducted more than 150,000 stop-and-searches and seized 3,000 knives.
Mrs Smith also announced that Keith Bristow, Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police and Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for violence and public protection, will lead TKAP as it moves into the next phase.
The PM said: "Knife crime and all forms of serious youth violence damage communities, destroy lives, and rob families of hope. It is completely unacceptable and we will not stand by.
"We will continue to take tough action - across police work, tougher sentencing, and also stronger prevention - to make our streets safer and send a clear message to the minority of young people involved in violence that they will not get away with it."
The Home Secretary added: "We all need to stand shoulder to shoulder to get knives off our street and protect young people from knife crime.
"Alongside our £100 million Youth Crime Action Plan we aim to prevent young people getting involved in crime in the first place and stop them re-offending if they do."
The Government is also working with the Youth Justice Board to extend knife crime prevention programmes to all TKAP areas so that young people caught carrying knives, or involved in knife related crimes, understand the potential consequences of their actions. To date 220 young people have entered the scheme.
This represents 100% of those who were required to attend as a condition of their order.
(JM/BMcC)
The new funding will be used to extend the government's 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) for another year and to include two new police force areas: Kent and Hampshire.
Maintaining this targeted approach to tackling knives and serious youth violence is part of the Government's wider plan to crack down on the small minority of young people who commit violent crime.
Recently published NHS data for 2007/08, which pre-dates TKAP, showed an 8% reduction in the overall number of admissions to hospital for assault by sharp object.
Provisional Home Office TKAP management information shows that since June 2008, police have conducted more than 150,000 stop-and-searches and seized 3,000 knives.
Mrs Smith also announced that Keith Bristow, Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police and Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for violence and public protection, will lead TKAP as it moves into the next phase.
The PM said: "Knife crime and all forms of serious youth violence damage communities, destroy lives, and rob families of hope. It is completely unacceptable and we will not stand by.
"We will continue to take tough action - across police work, tougher sentencing, and also stronger prevention - to make our streets safer and send a clear message to the minority of young people involved in violence that they will not get away with it."
The Home Secretary added: "We all need to stand shoulder to shoulder to get knives off our street and protect young people from knife crime.
"Alongside our £100 million Youth Crime Action Plan we aim to prevent young people getting involved in crime in the first place and stop them re-offending if they do."
The Government is also working with the Youth Justice Board to extend knife crime prevention programmes to all TKAP areas so that young people caught carrying knives, or involved in knife related crimes, understand the potential consequences of their actions. To date 220 young people have entered the scheme.
This represents 100% of those who were required to attend as a condition of their order.
(JM/BMcC)
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29 June 2009
Johnson Outlines More Help To Tackle Knife Crime
More than 150 organisations will receive £2.3 million to tackle knife crime and support victims, Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced today. A total of £2 million from the Community Fund and the Youth Sector Development Fund will help organisations who work with young people to prevent them becoming involved in gun, gang and knife crime.
Johnson Outlines More Help To Tackle Knife Crime
More than 150 organisations will receive £2.3 million to tackle knife crime and support victims, Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced today. A total of £2 million from the Community Fund and the Youth Sector Development Fund will help organisations who work with young people to prevent them becoming involved in gun, gang and knife crime.
26 October 2015
Knife Crime Initiative Launched
The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a week of activity to tackle knife crime in the Capital, following a successful campaign in the summer.
Knife Crime Initiative Launched
The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a week of activity to tackle knife crime in the Capital, following a successful campaign in the summer.
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.
16 October 2008
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
03 November 2008
Young People Urged To Unite In Knife Crime Fight
A new national billboard campaign encouraging young people and communities to stand together against knife crime was launched today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Young People Urged To Unite In Knife Crime Fight
A new national billboard campaign encouraging young people and communities to stand together against knife crime was launched today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
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