🗡️ Knife Crime: West Midlands

• Opening Remarks and Personal Stories:
  • Sarah Coombes shared a heart-wrenching story of a mother whose son was killed by knife crime, illustrating the profound impact on families and communities.
  • The debate focused on the prevention of knife crime in the West Midlands, which has the highest rate of knife crime per capita in England.
• Community and Youth Perspectives:
  • Young people expressed a need for more visible policing and more safe spaces like youth centres to prevent knife crime.
  • There is a call for education about knife crime to start at a younger age and to be delivered by those with personal experiences of its impact.
• Government and Policing Strategies:
  • The new Labour Government aims to halve knife crime within a decade, with plans to restore neighbourhood policing and increase the number of police officers and PCSOs.
  • The West Midlands police have initiated programs like the Life Or Knife initiative, which focuses on education and anonymous reporting of knife-carrying.
• Legislation and Enforcement:
  • The banning of zombie knives and machetes was supported, with discussions on enforcement, especially targeting online retailers.
  • There is a push for stronger sentences to deter knife possession and more proactive stop-and-search measures to take weapons off the streets.
• Education and Early Intervention:
  • Education and early intervention were highlighted as crucial, with suggestions for integrating knife crime prevention into school curriculums.
  • Mentoring and support for at-risk youth, particularly through organisations like St Giles Trust, were seen as vital to preventing violence.
• Victim and Community Support:
  • The debate acknowledged the widespread devastation caused by knife crime, with calls for better support for victims’ families and communities affected by violence.
  • Initiatives like the James Brindley Foundation and Project Ray of Hope were praised for engaging communities and providing positive alternatives for youth.
• Broader Initiatives and Future Plans:
  • The coalition to tackle knife crime, involving various stakeholders, was launched to address the issue collaboratively.
  • The Young Futures programme was mentioned, aiming to provide early intervention and support for vulnerable young people to prevent them from turning to crime.
• Personal Experiences and Calls for Action:
  • Several MPs shared personal experiences and local cases to underline the urgency of the issue.
  • There was a unified call for comprehensive action involving government, law enforcement, communities, and youth to effectively reduce knife crime.

The session on Knife Crime in the West Midlands displayed a low level of disagreement among the participants. The debate was characterized by a general consensus on the severity of the issue and the need for comprehensive action to address it. Speakers from various parties and backgrounds overwhelmingly agreed on the urgency of preventing knife crime, and there was a notable unity in highlighting the necessity for increased police presence, community engagement, educational programs, and youth services as key preventive measures. The contributions were largely supportive of the government’s outlined strategies and expressed a shared commitment to tackling the problem:

• Sarah Coombes (Lab): Her opening remarks focused on personal stories and the impact of knife crime, emphasizing prevention, education, and policing as crucial elements. She praised the government’s commitment to halving knife crime and sought detailed plans on achieving this goal.
• Wendy Morton (Con): She echoed the need for action against knife crime and commended community initiatives like those from the James Brindley Foundation, while also suggesting improvements in local policing and youth education.
• Preet Kaur Gill (Lab/Co-op): She discussed the public health aspect of knife crime, agreed on the necessity for a comprehensive approach, and welcomed the government’s interventions and coalition initiatives, though she pressed for more details on specific programs.
• Manuela Perteghella (LD): She supported the call for more robust measures and suggested practical additions like Cody’s law, showing a desire to enhance existing proposals rather than outright criticism.
• Alex Ballinger (Lab): His contribution reinforced the need for policing and preventive measures and expressed confidence in the government’s efforts.
• Ayoub Khan (Ind): He shared personal insights and advocated for resourcing youth centers, aligning with the consensus on early intervention and community solutions.
• Warinder Juss (Lab): His focus on community initiatives and the government’s coalition to tackle knife crime further demonstrated a collaborative approach.
• Mrs. Sureena Brackenridge (Lab): She supported educational and preventive measures, echoing the sentiment for a multifaceted approach.
• Jim Shannon (DUP): He suggested integrated approaches across different regions but did so in a supportive and cooperative manner.
• Tom Collins (Lab): He stressed the importance of youth involvement and prevention, aligning with existing government plans.
• Luke Taylor (LD): He proposed strengthening community policing and youth services, indicating areas for enhancement rather than dispute.
• Matt Vickers (Con): He raised questions about the specifics of government action and funding, but his queries were framed as seeking clarity and assurance rather than challenging the underlying approach.
• Dame Diana Johnson (Minister): She reiterated government commitments, announced measures taken, and highlighted the collaborative efforts, further emphasizing a united front against knife crime.

Overall, the session was marked by a shared determination to combat knife crime with a combination of policing, early intervention, and community engagement strategies. There was no significant point of contention or outright opposition, resulting in a low disagreement rating.