By Matt Rodda
I am very concerned by the rise in knife crime across the country and by the terrible incidents which have affected our community.
I believe that much more needs to be done to tackle this dreadful problem and we need to be both tough on knife crime and tough on the causes of knife crime.
Rising knife crime will not be solved by one government department or one piece of legislation but by the focused, coordinated, joined up action of all the different people and organisations that are involved, including the police, youth services, mental health providers, schools, tech companies, family support, youth offending teams, courts and the key role played by charities and community organisations providing timely early intervention.
Our plan can be boiled down to two equally important elements: tough on knife crime, tough on the causes of knife crime.
Being tough on knife crime includes swift punishment.
We won’t shrug our shoulders when teenagers are caught with knives, we will put in place swift firm action and stronger enforcement. Meaningless warnings aren’t enough.
There have to be consequences for carrying a knife.
Tough on the causes of knife crime means putting prevention first.
We need to tackle the causes of knife crime early and systematically – preventing young people being drawn into knife crime, targeting those most at risk of getting involved in knife crime and building a package of support for them.
Knife crime is a very serious problem, but having a plan and taking swift and determined action can and will make a real difference, both in our community and across the country.
Matt Rodda is Labour MP for Reading East
