Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts

Monday 4th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

I commend the work that is being done locally by West Midlands police to fight violent crime, particularly knife crime, and I am sure that the funds that it has put to use will make a difference. I would be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and other local Members of Parliament to discuss the matter further.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

15. With 44 fatal stabbings in London this year alone, does my right hon. Friend not accept that even the BME community would now welcome a tougher stance on stop and search—[Interruption.] Initially, the BME community argued against it and that is why I used the word “even”. Therefore, does my right hon. Friend think that it is time to provide different guidance to the police on when stop and search is appropriate?

[Sajid Javid]

Perhaps my hon. Friend listened to or heard about the speech I gave to the Police Federation just last week, when I said that the police should be examining all the powers that they currently have, including stop and search. Whenever they think that it is appropriate, they should not hesitate to use it because that will help all communities.