Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to tackle the rise in knife crime.

On 9 April 2018, the Government published the Serious Violence Strategy that set out action being taken to address serious violence and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. This includes the national knife crime media campaign, #knifefree, to raise awareness of the consequences of knife crime among young people and to encourage them to take up positive activities.

We will continue to encourage police forces in England and Wales to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. In February this year, all 44 forces participated in Operation Sceptre, which includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers, the use of surrender bins and educational activities. On 18 May we also announced up to £1million for a new round of the anti-knife crime Community Fund which will invited bids for funding from community groups to tackle knife crime in their area.