Bringing back a local policing model will help tackle knife crime

10 February 2023

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke says the ongoing rise in knife crime within the West Midlands further supports his calls for a more localised policing model.

Rich says the situation remains of serious concern, following a week of multiple incidents involving dangerous weapons, one of which resulted in a person being murdered.

His comments come after 20-year-old Bailey Atkinson was stabbed to death earlier this month in Walsall, with another man attacked in Dudley and taken to hospital in a critical condition just 24 hours later.

“It’s heart-wrenching to hear about young lives being taken on such a regular basis as a result of knife crime. We might be police officers but we are all human - none of us wants to hear about youngsters, children, being murdered on our doorstep,” said Rich. 

“For me, the answer is three-pronged. First, a proactive policing model which is embedded in local communities naturally builds trust and leads to the flow of intelligence. 

“Second, clear support for officers to use their powers to prevent crime, for example, Section 60 stop, search and arrest, making sure dangerous juvenile offenders in possession of weapons are detained and dealt with swiftly. 

“Thirdly, we need the justice system to step up and hand out sentences which prioritise public protection, rather than the perceived needs of offenders.

“I know our officers are working tirelessly under immense pressure to keep our streets as safe as they can. After all, officers tend to join the Force to protect the public - and that is exactly what our officers are trying to do. We need the powers that be to make sure this happens.

“Long-term, we need more bobbies back out among the community. We need to go back to basics and get our cops seen again with space to engage, not just going past in a blaze of blue lights and sirens."

As a father himself, Rich says his thoughts are with the families of the young people being injured or worse, killed, as a result of knife crime.

“I have three children, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about their safety too. Colleagues are finding examples of young people in and around schools and colleges, carrying machetes, zombie knives and other dangerous weapons,” he added.

“The lack of punishment and consequences for those involved in knife crime incidents is simply not acceptable. Changes need to be made, and protecting innocent members of the public should be the only priority.”