Police would like more funding to tackle knife crime, says senior West Country officer
Avon and Somerset Police don't have the money to do everything they would like, according to the officer tasked with tackling knife crime
Last updated 21st Nov 2024
The officer leading the efforts of Avon and Somerset Police against knife crime says they don't have enough money to do everything they'd like.
We've been speaking to Chief Inspector Mike Vass following a special week of action tackling the issue as part of Operation Sceptre. It sees officers pay visits to schools to teach children about the dangers of carrying a knife, whilst also carrying out weapon sweeps in public places among other things.
CI Vass says ideally they would do more, if they had the money.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "We're in a bit of a spot at the moment nationally, not just in policing but as a society (with funding issues).
"It's challenging. Do we have the budget and do we have the finance to do everything that we want to do? No we don't, we absolutely don't.
"Has the finance and the budget grown in line with the expectations and the demands of modern day society? No it hasn't."
Ci Vass' admission comes in the wake of two high profile trials in Bristol, of young people accused of murder over fatal stabbings.
On 1st November two 16-year-olds we cannot name for legal reasons were found guilty of murdering Darrian Williams, who was also 16. He was fatally stabbed in the back during an incident in Easton on Valentines Day, which was linked to a gang rivalry.
More recently on Friday 15th November, five people including four teenagers were found guilty of the murders of Mason Rist and Max Dixon in Knowle West in January, who were both stabbed in a case of mistaken identity.
Antony Snook (45) is now serving a minimum of 38 years behind bars for acting as the getaway driver in that case, while last week we revealed 1,000 knives are currently being surrendered to Avon and Somerset Police on average, every month.
What are the police hoping to do in future?
With the money the force does have, Avon and Somerset Police is currently working on a partnership with other groups to provide bleed control kits in public. Hundreds have already been installed with more planned, while the force is now working on free training for the public on how to use them.
"That's being developed as part of the Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership," CI Vass said.
"That will be a licenced product, will be free for all communities and could go out nationally and be used by anybody."
AS Police are also looking to develop a new system for dealing with retailors who illegally sell weapons to young people.
The force is trialling a potential new national system, CI Vass says, which allows officers to deal with and educate retailors out of court.
"(it) involves, the retailor that's failed that test purchase has to fund the engagement workshop as part of the outcome that they have to attend. It has to involve the member of staff that's made the sale, the manager and either the owner or a representative of the owners," he said.
The government response
A spokesperson for the Home Office has told Greatest Hits Radio AS Police will receive up to £411.3 million in funding across 2024-25.
How much money the force will receive in 2025-26 will be confirmed in December.