30 June 2024 , 20:00
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Shock figures show 14 children were found carrying a knife every day last year.
Police data released through freedom of information requests shows 5,239 under-18s were caught with blades last year in England and Wales. The figures, obtained by Labour, show a rise in kids carrying blades of 84% since 2018, when 2,879 incidents were recorded.
The true total is likely to be higher as 12 forces did not provide figures, including the Metropolitan Police, scotland>Police Scotland and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Shawn Seesahai was killed in a machete attack in Wolverhampton last year (West Midlands Police / SWNS)It comes amid mounting alarm over a series of high-profile stabbings, including the conviction of two 12-year-old boys for the murder of Shawn Seesahai in a machete attack in the West Midlands.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed Labour would transform the lives of teenagers - like Tony Blair's Government did for babies and toddlers with its Sure Start programme. She said: “Young people have been badly let down by successive Tory governments who have failed to keep them safe.
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"Knife crime is rising, there is a mental health crisis in our schools and gangs have easy access to purchasing dangerous knives and weapons online. The Tories have completely ignored crime prevention and it’s too often young people paying the price. Labour will change this."
Labour has promised to implement a Young Futures programme, which aims to prevent knife crime before it develops among young people.
The programme includes plans for a network of 100 new youth hubs, youth workers placed in A&E, custody centres and pupil referral units and tougher action when young people are found with a knife.
The Mirror has been campaigning to end the knife crime epidemic.
Our key demands include tougher powers for police, reversing Tory cuts to youth services and greater action in schools.