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MPs call for dedicated police for violent schools | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Schools in areas with a higher risk of youth violence should be given dedicated police officers, say MPs. | Schools in areas with a higher risk of youth violence should be given dedicated police officers, say MPs. |
The Home Affairs Committee criticised the government's current violence reduction strategy as "completely inadequate". | The Home Affairs Committee criticised the government's current violence reduction strategy as "completely inadequate". |
It called on the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to take "personal responsibility" for tackling knife and gun crime among young people. | It called on the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to take "personal responsibility" for tackling knife and gun crime among young people. |
But the Home Office said the MPs failed to fully recognise its action on crime. | But the Home Office said the MPs failed to fully recognise its action on crime. |
In its report, the committee called for more investment into neighbourhood policing - including a commitment to get a dedicated police officer into "all schools in areas with an above-average risk of serious youth violence" by April 2020. | In its report, the committee called for more investment into neighbourhood policing - including a commitment to get a dedicated police officer into "all schools in areas with an above-average risk of serious youth violence" by April 2020. |
It said by committing the money for the officers in the government's autumn spending review, it would become part of a drive to "rebuild vital links" with the communities affected. | It said by committing the money for the officers in the government's autumn spending review, it would become part of a drive to "rebuild vital links" with the communities affected. |
The report further criticised the government's strategy to cut violent crime in England and Wales for containing "no targets or milestones" and "few new actions". | The report further criticised the government's strategy to cut violent crime in England and Wales for containing "no targets or milestones" and "few new actions". |
'National emergency' | 'National emergency' |
Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the committee, said the Home Office had "taken a hands-off approach" to the "national emergency" of youth violence. | Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the committee, said the Home Office had "taken a hands-off approach" to the "national emergency" of youth violence. |
"To publish a weak strategy and convene a few roundtable discussions just isn't enough when faced with youth violence on this scale," she said. | "To publish a weak strategy and convene a few roundtable discussions just isn't enough when faced with youth violence on this scale," she said. |
"Serious violence has got worse after a perfect storm of youth service cuts, police cuts, more children being excluded from school and a failure of statutory agencies to keep them safe." | "Serious violence has got worse after a perfect storm of youth service cuts, police cuts, more children being excluded from school and a failure of statutory agencies to keep them safe." |
The report, published as part of the committee's inquiry into youth violence, also recommended that: | The report, published as part of the committee's inquiry into youth violence, also recommended that: |
The key factors in youth violence | The key factors in youth violence |
The Home Affairs Committee has compiled arguably the most comprehensive study into the causes of and possible solutions to youth violence since the problems began to escalate in 2015. | The Home Affairs Committee has compiled arguably the most comprehensive study into the causes of and possible solutions to youth violence since the problems began to escalate in 2015. |
Unlike the Home Office 'Serious Violence Strategy' - which barely mentioned public sector budget cuts when it was published in 2018 - the Committee identifies resources as a key factor, while emphasising that other issues, such as county lines drug gangs, have also played a part. | Unlike the Home Office 'Serious Violence Strategy' - which barely mentioned public sector budget cuts when it was published in 2018 - the Committee identifies resources as a key factor, while emphasising that other issues, such as county lines drug gangs, have also played a part. |
But there is no silver bullet, no one easy answer. | But there is no silver bullet, no one easy answer. |
Indeed, the MPs caution against slogans that sound good, but which may lack substance, such as "public health approach". | Indeed, the MPs caution against slogans that sound good, but which may lack substance, such as "public health approach". |
Instead, the tenor of the report suggests violence will only come down through sustained, hard work, over many years, by government, agencies and communities together. | Instead, the tenor of the report suggests violence will only come down through sustained, hard work, over many years, by government, agencies and communities together. |
In her evidence to the committee, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said every school and further education college in London is offered a "named officer". | In her evidence to the committee, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said every school and further education college in London is offered a "named officer". |
The officers focused on activities including "high visibility patrols", and delivering sessions and bespoke workshops to pupils, she said. | The officers focused on activities including "high visibility patrols", and delivering sessions and bespoke workshops to pupils, she said. |
She told the committee that she hoped there would be more than 500 safer schools officers based in the capital by the autumn. | She told the committee that she hoped there would be more than 500 safer schools officers based in the capital by the autumn. |
But the committee said "the picture is quite different in other parts of the country", with 10 of 33 English forces having no dedicated schools officers in 2017-18. | But the committee said "the picture is quite different in other parts of the country", with 10 of 33 English forces having no dedicated schools officers in 2017-18. |
A Home Office spokesman said the government had given the police extra powers and resources. | A Home Office spokesman said the government had given the police extra powers and resources. |
"The committee's assessment fails to recognise the full range of urgent action the government is taking to keep our communities safe," he said. | "The committee's assessment fails to recognise the full range of urgent action the government is taking to keep our communities safe," he said. |
The spokesman also said the new prime minister's pledge to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers, and the new national policing board, would "drive the response" to serious violence. | The spokesman also said the new prime minister's pledge to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers, and the new national policing board, would "drive the response" to serious violence. |
He added: "We have made it simpler for officers to use stop and search, and our Offensive Weapons Act will stop knives making their way onto our streets in the first place." | He added: "We have made it simpler for officers to use stop and search, and our Offensive Weapons Act will stop knives making their way onto our streets in the first place." |
Violent crime figures | Violent crime figures |
The latest figures from the Home Office - published in January - showed violent crime recorded by police in England and Wales had risen by 19% in a year. | The latest figures from the Home Office - published in January - showed violent crime recorded by police in England and Wales had risen by 19% in a year. |
The number of homicides - including murder and manslaughter - rose by 14% in the 12 months up to the end of September 2018. | The number of homicides - including murder and manslaughter - rose by 14% in the 12 months up to the end of September 2018. |
And the latest figures on knife crime showed there were 43,516 offences in England and Wales in the 12 months up to March 2019. | And the latest figures on knife crime showed there were 43,516 offences in England and Wales in the 12 months up to March 2019. |
The government's Serious Violence Strategy, launched last April, committed £11m for an "early intervention youth fund" to help young people at risk of getting involved in violence. | The government's Serious Violence Strategy, launched last April, committed £11m for an "early intervention youth fund" to help young people at risk of getting involved in violence. |
The plan also committed funds for a national coordination centre to tackle "county-lines" drug routes to target links between the illegal drugs market and violent crime. | The plan also committed funds for a national coordination centre to tackle "county-lines" drug routes to target links between the illegal drugs market and violent crime. |