County almost ‘at point of no return’ over knife crime

WEST Yorkshire is almost “at the point of no return” when it comes to knife crime, the politician in charge of policing and crime in the county has warned.

West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe, said a number of high-profile stabbings, many of them fatal, had meant a “really difficult” few months for the region.

Speaking at a meeting of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, she told members that new programmes to tackle knife crime were being proposed, adding: “What we have done in the past isn’t working.”

The meeting took place on the same day that it was announced that a knife amnesty would be held in Bradford starting yesterday.

Those surrendering knives or weapons at Trafalgar House police station before Friday are not required to give any personal details, and will not face prosecution for carrying them to surrender.

Bradford is currently hosting the

Knife Angel statue – a 27ft-high artwork made up of 100,000 knives that have been taken off the streets through programmes such as amnesties.

Giving an update on policing issues in West Yorkshire at the meeting, Ms Lowe spoke about the number of violent crimes involving knives that have happened in recent months.

“We’ve had a really difficult six months, and there is a lot of worry in our communities,” she said.

“I don’t want to minimise this by saying knife crime is reducing, but the reality is the number of homicides this year is greater than last.

“We want to work with young people, local authorities, schools, academies – they all have a role to play.”

She said the local violence reduction unit had commissioned a research project that will see 19 young people speak to other young people about issues such as knife crime and street violence. This will involve asking young people why they feel the need to carry a knife.

“We have to start doing things differently. Young people are scared,” Ms Lowe added.

“We’re getting to the point of no return – if we don’t start doing things differently, then the shame will be on us.

“What we have done in the past isn’t working.”

Referring to the Knife Angel, she said: “I’d urge people to go see it. I hope it triggers conversations across communities. I’m pleased to see the knife amnesty too.”

She also said she supported recently announced Government plans for tougher restrictions on the sale of machetes and “zombie” knives.

Members were also told of recent work to shut down a shop in West Yorkshire that was found to be selling dangerous knives, although Ms Lowe said she could not give details of which store it was.

The use of knives and other sharp instruments was the most common method of killing in England and Wales, responsible for 41 per cent of the total 696 killings in the year to March 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics.