Javid to meet police chiefs over wave of violence

SAJID JAVID has called an urgent meeting of police chiefs amid growing political pressure over knife crime.

The Home Secretary called for an end to the “senseless” violence yesterday after two 17-year-olds were fatally stabbed in apparently random attacks.

Jodie Chesney, a Girl Scout, and Yousef Makki, a scholarship pupil who wanted to be a heart surgeon, are the latest victims of a rise in violence that has seen scores die in cities across the country, including three teenagers within a fortnight in Birmingham.

Sarah Jones, the Labour MP for Croydon Central and chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime, demanded action from the Government, calling on Theresa May to convene Cobra and to set a six-month target to end knife crime. She accused

‘This is a national crisis and nothing less than focused leadership from the very top will solve it’

Mrs May of being “invisible” during a national crisis.

Mr Javid said: “Young people are being murdered across the country and it can’t go on. We’re taking action on many fronts and I’ll be meeting police chiefs this week to hear what more can be done. It is vital that we unite to stop this senseless violence.”

The Home Office said Mr Javid would chair the second chief constables’ round table on Wednesday, aimed at sharing experience and strategies for tackling violent crime.

The group represents police forces from across the country, particularly areas most affected by knife crime.

Ms Jones warned that the wave of violence was “ripping through our communities, tearing families apart”.

She said: “This is nothing less than a national crisis. Children are dying on our streets every week. It is not limited to big cities, even in smaller towns children are arming themselves. This has to stop. This is a national crisis and nothing less than focused leadership from the very top will solve it.”

But she claimed Mrs May was “nowhere to be seen”.

The Home Office said it had set out a range of actions to tackle violent crime in October, including a £200million youth endowment fund. An extra £970million in police funding is proposed for 2019-20 and the offensive weapons Bill will introduce new offences to tackle knife and acid crime.