Government holds anti-knife crime summit
West Yorkshire campaigners tell us what they want to see done to tackle the issue
Last updated 9th Sep 2024
Sir Keir Starmer has promised action to tackle the online sale of deadly weapons as he hosted a summit with knife crime campaigners.
The Prime Minister promised to "double down" on commitments made before the general election on tackling knife violence.
Actor Idris Elba who was present at the event, told the summit, "talk is good, but action is important" and said he hoped the work done by a coalition of organisations and campaigners could prevent younger generations being involved in knife crime.
Sir Keir said: "Far too many knives are too easily available, whether that's online, whether that's through the post."
There are examples of knives "bought online being posted through without any markings, and then people picking them up without any identification, and then those knives being used".
It is "just too shocking - that needs to be dealt with", he said.
Sir Keir suggested ministers will look at the punishments for those caught with knives.
The Prime Minister told the knife crime summit in Downing Street: "We also need to deal with the sanctions for those that are found with knives."
But there is also a need to "try to reach into the lives of young people who may be going off the tracks and trying to bring them back before they do so".
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood were at the Downing Street meeting and the new coalition to tackle knife crime will also include technology companies, sport organisations and representatives from the police and the NHS.
West Yorkshire campaigners tell us what they want to see
In West Yorkshire, we've covered the issue of knife crime extensively following a string of high-profile stabbings involving young people in recent years.
We recently heard exclusively from the family of a boy who was slashed across the throat in Cleckheaton as they call for tougher sentences for knife crime to act as a greater deterrent.
Other campaigners tell us improving provision for young people needs to be top of the agenda.
Clair Shaw and Niall Merrifield set up Boxpower Amateur Boxing Club in Huddersfield just over a year ago following concerns about knife crime in the area - they say the sport can transform young people's lives, but more support is needed for groups like theirs to keep going:
"We do it voluntarily, you know everything we've got in our gym we personally put our own money into it," says Clair.
"We do it because we love it and because we've got some knowledge to pass on. A bit of help would really help, because we've had no help.
"We've got a small gym, we can only fit in so many. We could never turn anybody away, but then it gets to a point of space."
Niall tells us about the impact clubs like this can have on young people:
"It's a channel, something to channel discipline and keep people focused.
"It's such a demanding sport, physically and mentally, so it needs the ultimate focus and discipline. It takes up all your time and mental capacity and it kind of grabs you and keeps you there.
"There's a certain kid who first came to the gym and was quiet and wouldn't look you in the eye, he was sheepish and you could see there were some confidence issues there. Since he's been coming he's a totally different kid. His mum tells us how well he's doing at school."
Leeds-based film maker Owen Seabrook directed 'Cut Short: Fighting Against Knives in the North', a free film and teaching package which has now been used in around 270 schools and youth organisations across the country.
He says knife crime needs to be treated as a public health issue:
"When we treat knife crime as a symptom of us not properly looking after the people in Britain, things dramatically improve. Treating it as the result of a society that is in need and communities that are lacking in certain provisions whether it's money or heating or stuff for young people to do.
"We need to do more things to keep them occupied and they need to be included more... like unfortunately suspension from school is not the answer because that just pushes them onto the street.
"In a lot of cases, these young people are just looking for belonging, they're looking for a family, or some sort of purpose that they're not getting at home or at school."
Youth educators can find out more about The Cut Short project here.