Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Buckland and Mike Amesbury

Thursday 21st December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)]

6. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling knife crime.

[The Solicitor General (Robert Buckland)]

I am a member of the inter-ministerial group on ending gang violence and exploitation, which meets regularly to discuss the reduction of gang-related crimes such as knife crime. In October, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that a serious violence strategy would be published in the early new year, and I regularly discuss the Crown Prosecution Service’s contributions to that strategy with ministerial colleagues.

[Mike Amesbury]

The Guardian project, “Beyond the blade”, states that national data on the number of children and teens killed by knives in any given year is not publicly available. Will the Solicitor General explain why?

[The Solicitor General]

I would be interested to know more about that, because I am particularly keen to ensure that the reporting and recording of knife crime are improved. We are seeing a rise in the number of reported cases because the police are recording them more accurately, and there is no doubt a problem in certain parts of the country where knife crime is rising, particularly here in London. I would be happy to talk further with the hon. Gentleman to explore a way forward to ensure that we have as much information as possible about this appalling crime.