Herts police officers cut knife crime by a third in five years
Knife crime in Hertfordshire has been slashed by a third over the past five years.
The good news was delivered to the county’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Ash-Edwards by Chief Constable Charlie Hall.
Knife crime and the incoming ban on zombie-style knives were the first items on the agenda at the pair’s latest accountability and performance meeting to scrutinise the force.
Broadcast live on the internet, the PCC was presented with evidence showing how stop and search powers, targeting habitual knife carriers and working with schools have all helped reduce knife and blade-related crimes and injuries.
Opening the meeting, the commissioner asked the chief constable: “It is important to say that Hertfordshire has a very low rate of violent crime in England, but knife crime is something that causes concern in some communities. What is the constabulary’s approach to tackling knife crime, current trends in terms of offences and outcome rates?
The chief constable responded: “I recognise that there’s real concern around this and we hear a lot about it through the media on a regular basis, the length and breadth of the country.
“What we actually see in Hertfordshire is [that] over the last five years or so, there’s been a steady decline. In terms of what we’re recording over about the last five years, there has been roughly a 35% reduction in number of crimes where knives and sharp implements are referenced.
“We’ve also done some work with the NHS around admissions into hospitals that seem to be connected with a knife or sharply pointed instruments which have caused injury requiring hospital admission. That data in the last 12 months shows a 25% reduction in hospital admissions in Hertfordshire.”
Mr Hall added that they would continue to “bear down” on those carrying knives as he recognised that levels needed to come down further. “We will continue to look to take knives and weapons off the street as we recognise the damage that they can cause,” he said.
After the meeting, Mr Ash-Edwards said: “I wanted to discuss this matter with the chief constable as I recognise that knife crime is a problem nationally and Hertfordshire residents are concerned about it.
“It was reassuring to hear that it has been reducing across the county in the past five years, thanks to the immense amount of work the police are putting into tackling it.
“A great deal of preventative work is being carried out by the constabulary and partners, and we should recognise this is not just a matter for policing, but a range of services and agencies.
“The new ban on zombie knives and machetes is due to come in this week and it is good to hear that officers are fully prepared to ensure that it is enforced to take these weapons off our streets.”
Recordings of the meetings are available, along with dates of future meetings, at hertscommissioner.org/apm. The next meeting is scheduled for October 17.
