Lib Dems: Tories have failed on knife crime
Responding to new statistics revealing knife crime is at a 10-year high in England and Wales, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:
"With knife crime at its highest in a decade, the Conservatives' approach to knife crime has clearly failed.
"They have unnecessarily criminalised thousands of young people, made them more likely to offend by locking them up on pointless short sentences, and undermined trust in the police through a surge in suspicion-less Stop and Search.
"Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to stop wasting money trying to seem tough on crime, and instead spend it on the things that actually make our communities safer. We need more community policing, more youth services and a proper public health approach to serious violence."
Recently in Warwickshire over 80 knives were handed in to county police during a week-long campaign. In Rugby 15 blades were handed in, 16 in Nuneaton, 17 in Stratford and 35 blades in Leamington. At the 2019 General Election Liberal Democrats set out ambitious plans to support young people by investing £500 million a year in youth services and taking a public health approach to youth violence.