Knife Crime: West Midlands

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2025 Westminster Hall

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

First, I wish you well, Sir John, as Westminster Hall Chair. I also thank the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Sarah Coombes) for leading this debate and setting the scene so well.

Knife crime prevention in the west midlands is of course no different from knife crime prevention in Northern Ireland, London, Wales or Scotland. So the issue is prevalent and pertinent to everyone in this Hall, and it is always good to address issues that are pertinent across the whole of this great nation.

We are very much aware of the increase in knife crime. I have listened closely to what hon. Members have said and to their thoughts on how to address these issues. I look forward to the Minister’s response, because she always gives us encouragement in her responses to the questions we ask, and I will ask her a question at the end of my speech.

I thank the hon. Member for West Bromwich for sharing experiences from her constituency and for addressing the horrors of knife crime. Knife crime remains a significant concern in the United Kingdom. In the year ending March 2023, there were approximately 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument—a 4.7% increase on the previous year. The Metropolitan police recorded around 15,000 offences in 2023-24—the highest number since 2019. When we think that that is a four-year high, we grasp just how important this issue is and why it is so important that we speak about it today.

The figures are shocking. Every week—or nearly every day, unfortunately—we seem to hear or read online or in the paper about yet another knife attack. There are many that stick in my head. I always think of the murder of Lee Rigby, the solider who was outside his camp, and of Ben Kinsella. More recently, we had the horrific Southport stabbings, on which there was a statement in the House about an hour ago. Three lovely wee girls at a dance class were killed, and others were severely injured.

The horror of knife crime cannot be underlined enough. It is accepted that Northern Ireland does not have the same problem as other areas of the United Kingdom, but the stats are still shocking and must be addressed properly. In the 12 months leading up to July 2022, there was an 8.4% increase in violence on the year before. There is also data showing that a disturbing percentage of sexual offences in Northern Ireland involve knives or sharp instruments. In 2023-24, the Belfast city police district recorded the highest number of crimes in Northern Ireland—some 33,000. That shows the high prevalence of the crimes we are talking about in urban areas.

In Northern Ireland, attacks on women and girls are unfortunately at the highest level in the United Kingdom. One of the women murdered was Natalie McNally. She was brutally stabbed the week before Christmas 2022. Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant. The Northern Ireland Policing Board has expressed concerns about the prevalence of knife-related crimes. The impact on communities is significant.

I often think about the families. I know that you, Sir John, and others in the Chamber will feel the same compassion at someone’s loss of a loved one as a result of such a violent and horrific crime. It is a grief that one can never get away from, so we must do more to address this issue.

I have a question for the Minister. This issue is her responsibility, and if we are going to address it centrally here at Westminster, how can we better share experiences, push together the legislation and give advice to some of the regional Administrations? I am thinking of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, in particular, as well as the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

I have every hope that we can do more to make our towns, villages and constituencies safer. As always, we must give thanks to the police and the emergency services, who do their bit to save lives and keep people safe in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I hope that knife crime will become a thing of the past, but there is much to do yet.