Battling violent crime

The Government unveiled a new crime prevention strategy this week in the hope of reversing the rising tide of knife and gun violence. Among the planned measures are extra stop-and-search powers and tougher restrictions on buying knives online, as well as a ban on the sale of acid to under-18s. The report also promises new money to tackle the causes of youth violence, and calls on social media platforms to stop hosting content that promotes gang violence. The plan follows a spate of stabbings in London that have taken the capital’s murder toll to more than 50 this year.

Labour welcomed the measures but said they would have a limited effect, given the loss of 21,000 police officers in England and Wales since 2010. Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, dismissed claims that there was a direct link between police numbers and the increase in violent crime, but her position was undermined by a leaked report from her own department that said budget cuts may have contributed to the rise.