The Liberal Democrats have published plans to tackle the growing problem of knife crime in London and Waltham Forest.

The document highlights several key proposals for reducing knife crime, including:

• Putting 10,000 extra police on the streets, around 2,000 of which would be in London, paid for by scrapping ID cards
• Ensuring each Safer Neighbourhood Team includes a trained, dedicated community support officer to identify and work with the young people who are most at risk through schools, youth groups and outreach work
• Creating a Greater London Youth Volunteer Force to make it easier for young disadvantaged people to volunteer. Activities would be relevant to young people but also teach them important skills

High St councillor James O’Rourke recently chaired a Council Scrutiny event in order to take evidence on how knife crime was being tackled in our borough.

Sixty people attended representing a myriad of internal and external key partners involved in tackling knife crime in Waltham Forest. A number of interested residents also attended.

Evidence was taken from a wide range of witnesses including the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Job Centre Plus, schools & colleges and trading standards. Vital evidence was supplied by three representatives of the Youth Independent Advisory Group who gave Councillors of the committees and other attendees an enthralling account from young people’s perspective.

Cllr O’Rourke said:

“We managed to start the debate on how to eradicate this serious problem.

“The issue of knife/youth crime cannot be allowed to disappear into the ether to await another tragedy.”

For a full copy of the Lib Dems proposals, please visit the Liberal Democrat Website.