Agenda item

The Head of Community Safety and Protection will give a presentation updating Members on knife crime in the city.  The Commission is recommended to receive the presentation and pass comments to the Head of Community Safety and Protection.

Superintendent Shane O’Neill from Leicestershire Police gave a presentation on Knife Crime, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

During the presentation, Superintendent O’Neill drew particular attention to the following points:

·           Knife crime was a national problem, with people in the age range 12 to 24 years being the most likely people to be affected.  However, the figures shown in slide 3 were Home Office numbers, which used selected criteria of crimes involving a knife and so were compiled in a different way to that used by the Police;

·           Slide 4 showed the crime figures collated by Leicestershire Police, which included any crime when a knife was threatened, seen or used.  From this, it could be seen that there had been a very sharp increase in knife crime over the last four years in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, but this had levelled off since April 2018;

·           There had been some reduction in the number of knife crimes in the New Parks / Western Park area.  When the figures in slide 7 had been compiled there had been issues between groups of youths in those areas, but these had now reduced.  However, the figures for that area were still relatively high;

·           Habitual knife carriers were people known or believed to have carried a knife three times in the last year;

·           The Community Safety Partnership Group shared information on matters such as who was likely to be carrying a knife with partners and other agencies.  This included services such as the City Council’s Housing services;

·           It was recognised that people carried knives for many different reasons and not all reached the threshold for service intervention.  However, when young people were identified as potentially likely to carry knives the Police tried to provide or facilitate diversionary activities;

·           Feedback from education partners indicated the benefit of early intervention.  As a result, Year 6 pupils were provided with prevention advice through an interactive wall at the Warning Zone, which was visited by a significant number of schools.  In this way, the message reached over 11,000 young people every year; and

·           It was hoped that connections could be made with faith groups in relation to knife crime during the coming year.

Members noted that more knife crimes were being reported, which could partly explain the increase in crime numbers, although it was known that many people did not report crimes, (for example, due to fear of repercussions of doing so).  However, the number of violent crimes was increasing and the Police also felt that they were generating a greater number of reports of incidences of knife carrying by increasing the number of times people were stopped and searched.  It was recognised that although a Police initiative in a certain area led to a short-term reduction in knife crime in that area, other initiatives were needed to maintain that decrease. 

The Police had limited resources, so although they could go in to schools to pass on the message about knife crime, they needed schools to embed such messages in the curriculum.  It was important to recognise that knife crime was a Leicestershire-wide issue and schools could be encouraged to assist in informing young people without any stigma.  However, it could be difficult to reach young people being educated in alternative ways, (such as through home education and those in exclusion units). 

It was noted that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire had established a fund of £100,000 for anti-knife crime initiatives.  Councillor Master, Assistant City Mayor – Neighbourhood Services, explained that the funding was held by the Commissioner’s Office and that voluntary and other groups needed to bid for funding.

Members suggested that one use for this funding could be to train people such as ex-offenders and/or victims to deliver anti-knife crime messages, as this could have significant impact.  Support from local Councillors to schools to consider any innovative methods for delivery of prevention messages on knife crime would be welcomed.  Any funding suggestions needed to be made to the Police or Safer Leicester Partnership.

Members noted with regret that youth services were having to be curtailed, due to the financial constraints currently faced by many organisations.  This removed a potential source of support for the work being undertaken to address knife crime.  The Commission therefore suggested that youth services should be increased, not reduced, especially in areas where young people potentially could be considered to be more vulnerable.

AGREED:

1)    That the Commission’s thanks be passed to all those working to combat knife crime in the city;

2)  That all Councillors be asked to promote the following page on the Leicestershire Police website and the information contained on it: Knife Crime Prevention Resources;

3)    That the slides from the presentation on knife crime, and when available a minute extract on the ensuing discussion, be circulated to all Members of the Council; and

4)    That this Commission asks the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission and the Deputy City Mayor with responsibility for Children and Young People’s Services to look in to how the problems associated with knife crime in the city and its consequences can be addressed city-wide through the City Council’s education and other services for young people, this to include consideration of activities that can be used to divert young people from engaging in knife crime.

Councillor Thalukdar left the meeting during the discussion on this item.