Local MPs discuss knife crime in Parliament

20 January 2025

Solihull West and Shirley MP Neil Shastri-Hurst has welcomed a Government commitment to halving knife crime within a decade saying that as a former trauma surgeon he had seen first-hand the devastating effects of knife and other serious violent crime.

But, speaking in the House of Commons in the run-up to Christmas, the Conservative MP called for more detail on Labour’s broader commitment on serious violent crime, highlighting the fact that no specifics had been given and asking the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby which crimes would be included.

Ms Rigby replied: “We know that effective local policing is vital to tackling knife crime, which is why we are putting 13,000 more police and police community support officers on our streets, because we are determined to make our streets safe. The Home Secretary has also commissioned a rapid review to understand how these weapons are sold online and delivered to under-18s and identify gaps in legislation and the most effective ways to stop this.”

The Labour MP for West Bromwich, Sarah Coombes, also spoke during the same session referring to a recent incident in her own constituency.

She told MPs: “A couple of weeks ago, people in West Bromwich were met with the terrifying sight of young people wearing balaclavas and wielding machetes running around the town centre in broad daylight. It was a shocking, dangerous incident that has put people off going into the town centre. What is the Solicitor General doing to work with other Ministers to crack down on these zombie-style knives and ensure our town centres are safe?”

Prosecutions

Ms Rigby said: “I am very sorry to hear about that shocking incident in my honourable friend’s constituency, and she is right to raise it in this House. These kinds of weapons have absolutely no place on our streets. That is why this Government took quick action to ensure it was illegal to possess machetes. I hope and expect that there will be timely prosecutions in this case.”

She also admitted knife crime was still too high, with more than 50,000 instances in the year to June 2024.

The Solicitor General explained: “Every single victim of knife crime is one too many, and this Christmas there will be some constituents, including my own, facing the heartbreaking reality of a loved one who is no longer with them due to knife crime. That is why, as part of our plan for change, the Government are 100 per cent committed to tackling knife crime.

Tim Rogers, secretary of West Midlands Police Federation, said he welcomed local MPs speaking out on knife crime in Parliament and repeated an invitation for all those representing West Midlands constituencies to meet with Federation officials to discuss the issue and others affecting policing in the region.

House of Commons

“We are pleased to hear that our MPs are taking an active role in the Commons, speaking out on matters affecting their communities,” says Tim, “Knife crime is devastating people’s lives, with young people losing their lives and their deaths having a life-long impact on the families and friends they leave behind.

“We have welcomed the Government’s pledges to tackle knife crime but we need to see tangible results, notably a reduction in these types of incidents. We are keen to engage with our MPs to discuss knife crime, other violent crime and a wide range of other matters that are impacting on policing in the West Midlands.

“We have now written to our MPs several times since the General Election, seeking to meet with them but sadly we have so far only been able to arrange a handful of meetings and, while a few more are in the pipeline, we are really disappointed that more MPs have not taken up our invitation.

“All too often we hear MPs talking about the importance of an effective police service and the need to invest in policing but it would seem that few are interested enough in law and order to speak to the Federation which represents the interests and views of those who day in, day out our out in their communities, seeking to fight and prevent crime, keep order and protect the vulnerable.”