Earlier this month was National Crime Week led by the Home Office. A number of announcements were made by the Home Secretary including the police responding to all crimes where lines of enquiry exist and driving up the visibility of policing across local communities. I have spoken in support of the announcements, in particular, my absolute determination to tackle knife crimes sweeping the country often with devastating consequences.

Compared to a decade ago, the number of young people carrying knives has doubled with hospitals seeing a massive increase in stab wounds, and nearly 40 per cent of all recorded homicides in the UK (in the year ending September 2022) were the result of a knife or sharp instrument. This widespread scourge on our society, fuelled by a growing gang culture, has to stop.

I’m working day in day out as your police commissioner to rid Hampshire and the Isle of Wight of this epidemic.

During National Crime Week, the Government announced new tougher sentences for so-called zombie knives and machetes with the tightening of laws, harsher sentences for those carrying them, and giving police officers more powers to seize and destroy. We need to reduce the threat by aiming our concerted efforts at educating children and young people. Parents need to ensure they understand the risks and how to spot the signs and keep their kids safe. 

Children and young people need to understand the consequences of carrying knives; of a life cut short by a knife or a life heading for destruction if you're part of a crime gang. 

Through my office, I deliver a Violence Reduction Unit with a multi-agency partnership with projects for under-25-year-olds that steer them away from knife crime, serious violence and exploitation. And this month, a pioneering drama scheme exploring the risks and impact to children in schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the next two years has begun.

My priority is to protect you, your family and your community, and I will stop at nothing to enable Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to continue to take more deadly weapons off our streets so we can all live our lives without fear of violence and intimidation.