MP calls for prevention in ‘knife crime capital’

A newly elected MP has called on ministers to step up efforts to tackle knife crime.

Wolverhampton West MP Warinder Juss told the Commons that policies were needed to "tackle not only youth violence but the causes of youth violence".

Citing the deaths of Terrell Marshall-Williams and Harleigh Hepworth in his constituency, Mr Juss said preventative work was as important as enforcement.

Ministers said the government's proposed Young Futures scheme would "support young people and help to prevent them from being drawn into violence"

Mr Juss told MPs that the issue was crucial for the region: "My constituency is in the West Midlands which, sadly, has been described as the knife crime capital of the United Kingdom."

Echoing the former prime minister Tony Blair, who promised to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime", Mr Juss called on ministers to tackle "drug abuse, lack of access to adequate mental health services and cuts in community provision—including youth centres".

Home Office minister Diana Johnson replied: "Tackling serious violence and halving knife crime is a core part of our Safer Streets mission.

"But to be successful it will require action across Whitehall and with all partners including police, probation youth services, technology companies, charities and community organisations."

During the general election campaign, Conservative leader Rishi Sunak proposed "a bold new model of mandatory national service" which the party said would divert young people away from "lives of unemployment and crime".

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