Knife Crime Prevention Orders Debate

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Department: Home Office

Knife Crime Prevention Orders

Mike Amesbury Excerpts
Monday 4th February 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Victoria Atkins Portrait Victoria Atkins
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My hon. Friend makes the point that it is the responsibility of retailers to check the age of the people to whom they sell these knives. That is precisely why we structured the Offensive Weapons Bill as we did, making it absolutely clear to retailers that the onus is on them to conduct these checks—it cannot just be a tick-box exercise—so that they are sure that the person to whom they deliver the item is over 18. That is also why we are requiring people to go to the local post office or to the delivery depot and show ID before they can pick up the item. Again, that means there is an extra check in the system. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that ticking a box simply is not good enough.

Mike Amesbury Portrait Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)
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As we speak, Live Your Life Drop The Knife is doing some excellent work in schools in the Runcorn part of my constituency. The community could do an even better job if the Government reversed the £56 million of cuts imposed on Cheshire police. When are they going to do that?

Victoria Atkins Portrait Victoria Atkins
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We have the vote tomorrow, and I assume the hon. Gentleman will vote in support of the police settlement grant, which will give £970 million to policing. I hope he will put his money where his mouth is and support the Government.