Investment is needed to tackle epidemic of knife crime, says Claudia Webbe MP

 Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe, has called for investment in communities to end the recent spate of knife crime in the city.

A 32-year-old man, Usman Patel, died from stab wounds in an attack on Green Lane Road in Spinney Hills, Leicester, on Sunday, July 18.

That was followed by two non-fatal stabbings in the city centre on Tuesday, July 20, in Belgrave Gate, and the following day when a man was stabbed on a bus in Humberstone Road.

Ms Webbe said: “Following a spate of recent knife-related incidents in Leicester, including, in my own constituency of Leicester East, my thoughts remain with the victims and their loved ones.

“Nobody should be forced to endure such horrific attacks.

“Every knife-related incident brings devastation to families as well as shock and fear to our community of Leicester.

“I thank the swift actions of our emergency services, the police have now brought charges against a number of suspects.

“I am particularly concerned that knife and violent crime continues to rise, in Leicester and across the UK.”

She said she wanted the government to provide better funding for local communities, including more money for mental health care.

She said: “Going forward, the government must declare knife crime an epidemic so that we can respond to this crisis with the severity it demands.

“A minority of young people turn to a life of crime and violence when they do not have opportunities or a realistic hope for a better future.

“Only a large-scale investment in our communities will end this cycle of misery. 

“Crime thrives amid poverty and lack of opportunity, and we need a serious injection of funding, including increased support for mental health, in every community to stem the growth of and ultimately to stop knife crime.

“I will continue to lobby the government to raise these particular cases, to call for support for communities like ours, and to seriously address the scourge of knife crime.”

The recent spate of violence came just days after Leicester City Council launched a new £450,000 strategy to tackle knife crime.

According to this Leicester Knife Crime and Serious Violence Strategy 2021-23, in the 2019/20 financial year, nearly three quarters (72.8%) of all serious violent crime Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland happened in the city.

And there have been more than 80 serious violent crimes involving knives in the city in every single quarter from the start of 2017 to the end of 2020 – meaning on average, there is a violent crime involving a knife almost every day.

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe