The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
KNIFE CRIME SPECIAL REPORT
Dozens of lethal blades - and even a gun - handed into police during knife amnesty. Stephen Briggs reports
Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson has hit out at police after claiming a rise in knife crime is partly down to a rise in the Eastern European population in the city.
Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said he believed the rise in knife crime was partly down to a rise in the Eastern European population - although a top police officer said she did not agree with his theory.
The comments came after dozens of lethal weapons were taken off Peterborough streets during a month long knife amnesty.
Cambridgeshire police held the campaign to get rid of blades from Peterborough streets following a sharp rise in knife robberies in the city.
Throughout October special bins were placed in police stations and council buildings across the city for people to hand in weapons without fear of prosecution.
More than 50 knives and swords were handed into police during October.
The lethal looking blades included lock and flick knives, as well as ornamental weapons - and even a pair of kitchen scissors.
There have been an extra 67 knife crimes in the past year of which 40 were down to robbery.
Peterborough Area Commander Superintendent Melanie Dales said she believed much of the increase in the number of knife crime in the area was down to youths carrying pen-knives.
She said: “The crimes weren’t in schools either and sometimes a knife was not seen, but because the threat of being attacked by a knife was made this was why it was classed as knife crime.
“There is no obvious reason for rise in knife crime but it is believed to be down to youth culture.”
Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson said he thought members of the Eastern European community were partly responsible for the rise in knife crime.
He said: “I have seen figures that show 37 per cent of the people charged over knife crime i n Cambridgeshire were not British. The population of Eastern Europeans in the county is at 10 per cent, so there is a link.
“I think there is a cultural thing about carrying a knife - not necessarily using one.
“I think it is something that we need to tackle through education. We need to say to people if you are carrying a knife you could get involved in using it, or become a victim of knife crime yourself.”
However, Supt Dales said: “Not at all. I can honestly say that’s not been born out of the evidence I’ve had. And it’s not me being politically correct.”
DCI Tim Nasta added: “The feedback from Safer Schools is they (youngsters) carry a knife for their own protection. We are really trying to get that message home that it’s not a cool thing to do.
“Even if your intention is not to use it, if you are found with a knife it’s a serious offence.”
DCI Nasta added: “The figure for robberies involving a knife in Peterborough is low but rising and this amnesty can only help our efforts to drive it down.
“We will also continue our work in schools to warn of the dangers and repeat the message that it’s just not worth carrying a knife because it could ruin your life.”
All the knives collected will now be donated to the British Ironwork Centre, in Oswestry, which is running a Surrender a Knife, Save a Life campaign.
As part of the campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime, a 26-foot high knife angel is being created using knives handed in across the country.
Between September 1 last year and September 1 this year, there were 41 robberies in the city involving a knife or bladed instrument. For the same period 2013/14, there were 20.
The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5,000. It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone aged 18 or under, or to carry a knife with out good reason.