As knife crime increases within our communities, I was pleased to hear that police will be given greater powers to use Stop and Search in the areas worst affected by knife crime so we can take weapons off our streets.
After a meeting with police leaders on knife crime the Home Secretary has made it easier for police in seven areas across England to use Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
This will empower 3,000 more officers to stop and search anyone in a designated area without needing reasonable grounds for suspicion if serious violence is anticipated.
The changes will apply to police forces in seven areas, in which the level of knife crime accounts for 60 per cent of knife crime nationally. The changes will run for up to a year and will be reviewed after six months.
In addition, we have introduced the Serious Violence Strategy, the Serious Violence Taskforce and the Offensive Weapons Bill. Our police funding settlement will make available up to £970 million extra for our police next year as well as an extra £100 million announced in the Spring Statement.
These horrific crimes are a reminder that there is plenty to do still to tackle to violence on our streets. I believe it is an excellent initiative to give police on the front line more effective powers to disrupt crimes, take weapons off our streets and keep our communities safe.
