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Call for action to tackle Birmingham's knife crime 'epidemic' Call for action to tackle Birmingham knife crime 'epidemic'
(35 minutes later)
MPs and campaigners are calling for more action to tackle an “epidemic” of knife crime in Birmingham following a spate of stabbings in the city. MPs and campaigners are calling for more action to tackle an “epidemic” of knife crime in Birmingham after a spate of stabbings in the city.
On Monday an investigation was launched after a man was stabbed and another found with serious head injuries on Broad Street in the city centre. An investigation was launched on Monday after a man was stabbed and another found with serious head injuries on Broad Street in the city centre.
It follows the deaths of four men in a week of stabbings in Birmingham and Solihull earlier in July. One of the victims was Daniel Baird, 26, who was stabbed near The Forge Tavern in Digbeth. It follows the deaths of four men in a week of stabbings in Birmingham and Solihull earlier in July. One of the victims, Daniel Baird, 26, was stabbed near the Forge Tavern in Digbeth.
Des Flood, a city councillor, said: “Knife crime appears to be an epidemic in the south of our city.”Des Flood, a city councillor, said: “Knife crime appears to be an epidemic in the south of our city.”
Khalid Mahmood, the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said he was “very concerned” and that it was predominantly gang violence. Khalid Mahmood, the MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said he was “very concerned” and that it was predominantly the result of gang violence.
Mahmood said the rising figures were due to a reduction in police on the streets and cuts to community services. He said: “We managed to get knife crime to a low in 2010. We managed to reduce it because we had lots of police on the ground engaged in community confidence-building. We had a good number of community support officers but we’ve lost all that. Mahmood said the rising figures were due to a reduction in the number of police on the streets and cuts to community services. “We managed to get knife crime to a low in 2010. We managed to reduce it because we had lots of police on the ground engaged in community confidence-building. We had a good number of community support officers but we’ve lost all that.
“Knife crime has risen significantly … it’s something we need to resolve, but we can only do so much and people say numbers don’t matter in terms of policing but the only way to be proactive is having officers on the beat.”“Knife crime has risen significantly … it’s something we need to resolve, but we can only do so much and people say numbers don’t matter in terms of policing but the only way to be proactive is having officers on the beat.”
Mahmood said there used to be local area meetings for police but they no longer happened. “We had community neighbourhood forums set up and three or four officers including inspectors would be there. They would speak to us and ask, ‘What are the issues and how do we deal with this?’” Mahmood said there used to be local area meetings for police but they no longer happened. “We had community neighbourhood forums set up and three or four officers, including inspectors, would be there. They would speak to us and ask, ‘What are the issues and how do we deal with this?’”
Figures show West Midlands police recorded 2,296 knife crimes in 2016, up by 40% from 1,637 in 2013. In 2013 more people were charged, with the number going from 544 to 417 in three years. Figures show West Midlands police recorded 2,296 knife crimes in 2016, up by 40% from 1,637 three years earlier. In 2013 more people were charged, with the number going from 544 then to 417 in 2016.
The force’s deputy chief constable, Louisa Rolfe, said there had been a spate of knife offences recently, including several fatal stabbings. She said: “Like everyone else, I have been shocked by these incidents. This is not normal in the West Midlands and it’s understandably worrying for the public whenever we experience incidents like this.” The force’s deputy chief constable, Louisa Rolfe, said there had been a spate of knife offences recently, including several fatal stabbings. “Like everyone else, I have been shocked by these incidents. This is not normal in the West Midlands and it’s understandably worrying for the public whenever we experience incidents like this.”
She added that it was important to stress that these were separate events and that education was key to tackling knife crime. She said it was important to stress that they were separate events and that education was the key to tackling knife crime.
The Birmingham Mail reported that West Midlands police recorded 847 knife possession offences in 2016 to 17, up 32% from the year before, the highest number since 2002-2003. The Birmingham Mail reported that West Midlands police recorded 847 knife possession offences in 2016-17, up 32% from the year before and the highest number since 2002-03.
Desmond Jaddoo, a community campaigner, said: “There have been several knife crime incidents recently and it becoming highly concerning again. It was recently reported that people under 18 are going to shops and buying knives. What checks are in place for that? We have had incidents of people cut with knives in broad daylight. Desmond Jaddoo, a community campaigner, said: “There have been several knife crime incidents recently and it is becoming highly concerning again. It was recently reported that people under 18 are going to shops and buying knives. What checks are in place for that? We have had incidents of people cut with knives in broad daylight.
“We need a joined-up, uniform approach to educate young people on weapons on the streets of Birmingham. We particularly need to educate youngsters on knives. I am also in favour of properly managed and strategic stop and search.”“We need a joined-up, uniform approach to educate young people on weapons on the streets of Birmingham. We particularly need to educate youngsters on knives. I am also in favour of properly managed and strategic stop and search.”
The Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, said: “As a personal friend of one of the recent victims Daniel Baird, I have seen the horror knife crime causes to families and our community. We must do more and resources are needed to tackle this issue. We need targeted schemes. Youth work and resources have all been degraded in the past eight years.”The Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, said: “As a personal friend of one of the recent victims Daniel Baird, I have seen the horror knife crime causes to families and our community. We must do more and resources are needed to tackle this issue. We need targeted schemes. Youth work and resources have all been degraded in the past eight years.”
Rolfe said: “We’re actively targeting gangs in the West Midlands. We will soon be releasing details of gang injunctions we’ve secured alongside Birmingham city council on almost 20 gang members, which will severely disrupt their activity by banning them from associating with each other and from entering large parts of Birmingham. This is a landmark case and shows our determination to come down hard on people who threaten our communities.” Rolfe said police were targeting gangs in the region. “We will soon be releasing details of gang injunctions we’ve secured alongside Birmingham city council on almost 20 gang members, which will severely disrupt their activity by banning them from associating with each other and from entering large parts of Birmingham. This is a landmark case and shows our determination to come down hard on people who threaten our communities.”