£100m for knife crime epidemic

POLICE were handed an extra £100million yesterday to combat Britain’s knife crime epidemic.

Chancellor Philip Hammond made the announcement after days of haggling with Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

Last week Mr Hammond said forces should divert existing resources from lower priority crimes, but extra funding has now been found for overtime costs and specialist units dedicated to combating serious violence.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Javid took credit for the announcement, saying he had listened to the concerns of senior officers, and that the money would target the hardest hit areas.

Backbench Tory MPs yesterday urged Theresa May to increase sentences for knife crime.