Police won’t solve the knife crime epidemic – but community work can
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Helen Millward, Keele University and Lindsay Hamilton, Keele University
Knife crime is a growing concern in England and Wales, with the UK government pledging an additional £100m to tackle what West Midlands Police have named a “national emergency”. Figures show that the number of knife crime incidents is rising. In England, there were 5,053 knife assaults recorded in 2017-18, an increase of 14% since 2016-17 and 39% higher than in 2014-15. Just over one in five knife offenders are between the ages of ten and 17.
Recent media focus has suggested that budgetary cuts and the fall in police officer numbers are to blame. Commentators also question the long-term efficacy of preventive methods such as police stop and search powers, mediation and test-purchasing of weapons in shops, ensuring only those 18 or older are able to buy weapons.
Worryingly, research points to a close correlation between knife crime and a raft of social problems such as poverty, school exclusions...
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