Member

We need early intervention, not just reaction. The Government claim that tackling knife crime is a priority and that they are determined to halve knife crime in a decade as part of the safer streets mission. They have set a target to halve knife crime. This is a goal we share, but it must be underpinned by a credible and properly resourced plan to achieve it, so I ask the Minister: beyond restrictions on individual weapons, what further steps will the Government take to tackle the root cause of knife crime? Will there be investment in youth outreach and early intervention programmes, particularly in the areas most affected by serious violence? Can he confirm whether police forces have been given additional guidance or resources to support enforcement of the order? How will consistency be ensured, given the operational challenges encountered in previous schemes?