Deputy Mayor responds to knife crime funding announcement

Responding to Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement today (Wednesday 13 March) that police forces are to share £100m to tackle knife crime over the next 12 months, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Hughes said:

“Increased funding from Government to help our police tackle knife crime is of course welcome, however we will need to study the detail of the Chancellor’s announcement.  Regardless, this announcement comes after a decade of Government cuts which have led to 2,000 fewer officers on our streets and the decimation of local youth services. 

“We also need to be clear that this is not solely a police issue – we need local authorities, youth services, health, education and schools, as well as other criminal justice partners around the table, working together with our communities to tackle this problem. We also need parents and families to take the closest interest in their youngsters and to talk to them about how to avoid risk. 

“That is the approach we are taking in Greater Manchester. This must, and will, include enforcement action, but how we work with families, communities and our young people to address the reasons why people carry knives is also crucial.”

Article Published: 13/03/2019 17:01 PM