Home Secretary Theresa May’s vital announcement follows a report into knife crime collated by former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, whose own brother Ben was tragically knifed to death three years ago.
Regular readers of SMT Online will know that, in June last year, the anti-knife crime campaigner was asked by the Home Secretary and Prime Minister David Cameron to undertake something of a fact-finding mission and assess the effectiveness of work designed to keep young people well away from violent crime and thoughts of violence involving weapons.
Ms Kinsella’s detailed report, entitled ‘Tackling Knife Crime Together: a Review of Local Anti-Knife Crime Projects was published on Wednesday (access the full report by clicking the web link on the right hand panel of this page).
The report makes a number of recommendations, including:
- anti-knife crime presentations for school children
- more data sharing between the police, schools and other agencies on local issues
- a Best Practice website for local organisations
- more work with young children to prevent them from becoming involved in knife crime
Funding focused on several key areas
On the back of Kinsella’s report, the newly-available Government funding will be broken down into several target areas.
Police force regions where more than half of the country’s knife crime occurs – namely London, Manchester and the West Midlands – will receive GB pound 3.75 million.
In addition, GB pound 4 million is to be channeled in support of a ‘Communities against Gangs, Guns and Knives’ fund for local voluntary organisations spread across England and Wales.
The remaining GB pound 10 million is earmarked to fund activities with young people identified as being at risk of becoming involved in crime.
The Ben Kinsella Fund established for young people to run anti-knife crime projects in their local area has received GB pound 250,000 of Government monies.
Government funding will sit alongside positive activities for young people and local work to bring about long-term changes in attitudes and behaviours.
Launch at London’s Policy Exchange
In a speech at London’s Policy Exchange on the same day that the scoping report was published, Theresa May thanked Brooke Kinsella for her efforts.
“I’m delighted to announce that, off the back of Brooke’s recommendations, we will invest money into changing attitudes and behaviour. We’ll also be tough on those who persist in being involved with senseless crimes.”
The Home Secretary added: “This new funding will support vital police work where it’s most needed. Most importantly, it will greatly assist young people and local voluntary organisations working at the heart of our communities.”
Here’s the text of Theresa May’s speech in full as it was written…
“I’m absolutely delighted that so many people who have done so much to help Brooke in producing this report are here today. I’m also delighted that we have so many people here who are making a real difference in our communities when it comes to tackling knife crime. Thank you for all that you’ve done, and for all that you will go on to do.”
“The main thanks today, though, go to Brooke. I know, Brooke, that you have devoted an enormous amount of time, effort and energy to this work that you care so passionately about.”
“I think Brooke’s report really highlights just how important an issue knife crime remains. It brings home the fact that tackling knife crime will take a concerted effort from the whole of society. That includes not only Government but also local authorities, voluntary groups and, of course, young people themselves.”
“Brooke has already outlined to me her interim findings, and we will study her full report and recommendations carefully.”
“Today I can announce a substantial funding package for anti-knife crime initiatives over the next two years. This package is fully in line with Brooke’s recommendations and includes:
- up to GB pound 10 million for prevention and diversionary activities, and engagement with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime
- up to GB pound 3.75 million for London, Manchester and the West Midlands: the three police force areas where more than half of the country’s knife crime occurs
- up to GB pound 4 million for a ‘Communities Against Gangs, Guns and Knives’ Fund for local voluntary organisations across England and Wales to work with young people in stopping their involvement with knife and gang violence
- up to GB pound 250,000 for the Ben Kinsella Fund
Educational materials for UK schools
“We will also be responding directly to Brooke’s recommendations by providing up to GB pound 1 million of funding for the development of anti-gang, gun and knife crime education materials for schools and a Best Practice website enabling local projects to share their knowledge and expertise.”
“This package demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling knife crime and serious youth violence, and our full commitment to Brooke’s report. Even in these tough economic times there are some things that are just too important not to do.”
“I am challenging local authorities to match us in supporting frontline knife crime interventions. Those local authorities have to make significant savings, just as the rest of the public sector has to do, but these projects are not the place to be making cuts.”
In conclusion, the Home Secretary said: “As Brooke’s report so persuasively sets out, we need to support the fantastic work that the people in this room and around the country are doing to stop young people carrying knives and turning to a life of crime. That’s exactly what this Government is committed to doing. With Brooke’s help, we will get there.”
Meeting so many inspirational people
Also speaking at the Policy Exchange, Brooke Kinsella said she has met many inspirational people during the course of her research project.
“My report builds on their experiences and recommendations,” she said,
“and I’m glad it has informed the Government’s plans for tackling knife crime. I know that most young people are hard working and law abiding, and I want to make sure no other family has to go through what my family went through.”
SMT Online is in total agreement with what’s being said here. Put simply, knife, gun and gang crime is wholly unacceptable and it’s entirely right that its reduction is a key priority for the coalition Government.
Far too many young lives are still blighted by violent crime, and we must all be totally committed to making our communities safer places for everyone.
The Government has stated that this latest funding will run from April this year through to March 2013 (when police and crime commissioners will then be in place).