Knife crime 'remains a priority' for police after almost 200 convictions in Bedfordshire
Police in Bedfordshire have assured the public that tackling knife crime is one of its priorities after nearly 200 knife offences were dealt with by the courts in the past year.
New figures from the Ministry of Justice show there were 192 knife and offensive weapon offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System in Bedfordshire in the year to June.
This was slightly more than the 187 a year earlier, but less than the 231 in 2015.
The force says it will continue to work closely with its partners in policing, education, and community organisations to tackle the root causes of knife crime and prevent young people from becoming involved.
Its programmes focus on early intervention, education in schools, and providing safe spaces and mentoring for young people at risk, to steer them away from violence and exploitation.
And as part of the Just Drop It campaign, there are 11 bins across the county where people can safely dispose of a knife.
Across England and Wales, there were 20,734 knife and offensive weapon offences formally dealt with by the courts over the same period.
This was a three per cent increase on the previous year, and a 24 per cent increase over the last decade.
The data also shows the proportion of offenders receiving an immediate custodial sentence for a knife and offensive weapon offence was 31 per cent, a slight decrease on 32 per cent the year before.
It comes after separate figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of knife-enabled crimes reported by the police across England and Wales fell by one per cent in the year to March.
Offences in the county have decreased over the last 12 months while the force’s solved crime rate for knife crime has increased in that same period.
Bedfordshire Police’s knife crime lead Superintendent Alex House, said: “While the latest figures show a slight increase in knife crime cases dealt with by the Criminal Justice System compared to last year, it’s important to note that this goes hand-in-hand with the force’s increase in rates for solved knife crime in the last 12 months.
“Overall knife crime offences in Bedfordshire have also fallen by 17 per cent in the last decade.
“We know enforcement alone isn’t enough, which is why we work closely with schools, community groups, and partners through initiatives like the Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership and our Just Drop It campaign.
“Just last week, our officers took part in the national week of action Sceptre, carrying out weapon sweeps and test purchases to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands, while delivering educational inputs across schools and colleges to raise awareness of the tragic consequences carrying a knife can have.
“Our priority is clear: to reduce harm and keep Bedfordshire safe.”