Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Francois Excerpts

Monday 4th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)]

6. What steps he is taking to tackle knife crime.

[Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford) (Con)]

8. What steps he is taking to tackle knife crime.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sajid Javid)]

The Government have published a serious violence strategy that sets out a range of actions to tackle knife crime, including a national media campaign, continuing support for police action under Operation Sceptre, an offensive weapons Bill and a new round of the Community Fund.

[Sajid Javid]

I agree with my hon. Friend. Offenders need to know that if they commit serious crimes, a prison cell awaits them. That is a huge deterrent, and it is also very much a part of the serious violence strategy.

[Mr Francois]

Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in the prevalence of knife crime in Essex over the past year. Some of it is associated with county lines drugs operations moving out into Essex from the capital. What action is the Home Secretary’s Department taking, in association with the Essex police, to fight this menace on our streets?

[Sajid Javid]

I know that the police in Essex taking this issue seriously. Among the actions that they are taking, one thing I would encourage them to do more of is to apply to the Community Fund and to focus a bit more on early intervention, which I know they are interested in and have done successfully before. They have received funding for such projects before, and I would encourage them to seek it again.