A local councillor has made a plea to Milton Keynes MPs and Thames Valley Police demanding action.
Local councillor Dr Shery Delfani, has written a letter outlining the local issue surrounding knife crime and asking for increased funding and provide more job opportunities in various areas.
Writing to Iain Stewart, MP for MK South, Ben Everitt, MP for MK North and Matthew Barber, PCC for Thames Valley Police, Local councillor Dr Shery Delfani also covers her concerns with the PCC’s plan to combat anti-social behaviour.
She wrote: “In less than seven weeks, we have seen three young people lose their lives as a direct result of knife crime in MK. Sadly, we are experiencing a significant rise in levels of crime, especially knife crime in Milton Keynes. It is absolutely shocking to live in a society where we see young people affected as primary and secondary victims of these tragedies.
"But the question is, why has this increased dramatically in Milton Keynes for the last few years? On September 2021, the PCC revealed his plans to commit £7.72million to combating anti-social behaviour in the Thames Valley region and hat MK will be allocated £2,098,398 over this three-year plan. Additionally, the PCC also made a statement on 26/06/2021 as follows: “My new Police & Criminal Justice Plan sets strong local policing as a priority and explicitly seeks to reduce violent crimes, especially deaths from knife crime."
"Although this plan is to be welcomed, there are some concerns - firstly it will not start until April 2022 and secondly there is no clarity or action plan to specifically tackle knife crime in MK. Per 100,000 of the population, police numbers in England and Wales are among the lowest in Europe. Nationally, there are still approximately 12,000 fewer police officers in 2021 than there were in 2010.
"Despite the government’s promise in 2019, to recruit more police and bring the numbers up to the years before, so far, the government has failed to keep its promise. In two years, knife crime in the MK has soared by a staggering 90 percent, a higher rise than in London with at least ten fatal stabbings in less than two years.
"In 2020/ 2021, according to the latest data, Milton Keynes had 81 knife enabled incidents. Sadly, MK has the highest overall knife related crime numbers in the whole of the TVP force area according to a national report. This cannot be allowed to continue. By perpetuating the failure to invest in police resources and cuts in CCTV, MK residents are paying for this issue with their lives.
"As a woman, I do not feel safe anymore to walk in MK’s streets while I know there is not enough police and CCTV coverage to protect us. We all have a role to play. I urge you all, to put this matter urgently at the top of your agenda by sourcing more police and CCTV in MK. We cannot accept any more lives to be taken because of knife crime in MK.”
This comes as Milton Keynes North MP, Ben Everitt, raised the issue with Policing Minister. Speaking in parliament, Ben Everitt said: "Another young life has been tragically lost to a knife in Milton Keynes. Will the Minister agree with me that as well as record numbers of police on the streets, we need courts and the CPS to work with the police to ensure that there are real deterrents to carrying a knife on our streets?"
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse responded that he is very sorry to hear of the crime that took place in Milton Keynes and that "The fight against knife crime is in the forefront of the Government's priorities".
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police also made a visit to MK on Friday 25th, where he took a walk around estates whilst discussing knife crime.
READ AGAIN: Local MP meets with Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss knife crime in Milton Keynes
READ AGAIN: Milton Keynes MP raises knife crime issue with Policing Minister
