Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Chief Constables on increasing the authority of forces to implement stop and search where there is a recently proven spike in knife crime.

Stop and search is a vital policing tool when used correctly and officers have the Government's full support to use these powers in a way that is fair, lawful and effective.

The Home Secretary has been clear that he wants officers to feel confident, trusted and supported when they are using stop and search powers, which form one part of our broader strategy to tackle violence.

We are therefore looking at ways to reduce bureaucracy and increase efficiency in the use of this power to ensure the police feel better able to use these powers where they have reasonable grounds to do so.

Both the Home Secretary and I engage with the Chief Constables on a regular basis to discuss matters of concern, including the use of stop and search and recent incidents of knife crime, especially in London.