Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChinese Police Stations in UKI completely agree with the hon. Lady’s sentiment that international students—indeed, any students—at UK universities should be free from intimidation, a point I made in response…19 Apr 2023HANSARDUse of Machetes and Other Knives in Crime: Legislative ProposalsThe Government are today launching a seven-week consultation on new knife legislation proposals to tackle the use of machetes and other bladed articles in crime. There are already…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationAs I said in my previous answer, the knives that we are talking about with serrated edges and jagged shapes tend to cause the worst injuries, because of the internal damage that…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationOverall, total homicide has gone down slightly over the last three years—by about 7%, speaking from memory. We should welcome that reduction. One of the reasons for legislating is…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationActually, the Metropolitan police already has record numbers. The most recent published figures show that it has roughly 35,000 police officers compared to a previous peak of…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI have talked a lot about the measures being taken to tackle the causes of knife crime: the Youth Endowment Fund, the violence reduction units and the Grip hotspot surge policing.…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI am afraid I do not have the prosecution figures to hand, but I will certainly write to the hon. Gentleman with them. They are quite substantial. I agree with his general point…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationYes, I absolutely agree that stop and search is a vital tool. I mentioned a few minutes ago that every month in London alone stop and search takes between 350 and 400 knives off…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationOne of the reasons we are hiring extra officers—and why we are confident we will have record numbers when the figures are unveiled next week—is to ensure we have a visible police…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationMy hon. Friend and fellow London MP asks a very good and pertinent question. The Metropolitan police currently takes between 350 and 400 knives off the streets of London every…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI recognise many of the causal factors the hon. Lady describes from her experience in West Ham. In Croydon, we see similar social problems that need to be addressed. Quite a lot…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationSome important steps were taken through the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Louth and Horncastle (Victoria…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI agree completely with the right hon. Gentleman’s sentiments and those expressed previously by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton South East (Mr McFadden). Speed is…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationMy hon. Friend speaks words of great wisdom and I agree with every single one of them.18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI am glad the right hon. Gentleman likes the statement and I will try to provide further such statements in the future given that there is clearly an appetite for them from his…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI thank my hon. Friend for his tireless campaigning on this issue, and his local paper which I know has been raising it as well. I am sorry to hear what he says about the Labour…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationOn the first point regarding existing legislation, certain kinds of zombie knives were banned under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, but as I said earlier, sub-paragraph (iii) in…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his moving and powerful description of the awful tragedy that has affected the family of his constituent. The way he described that incident…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationI agree with my hon. Friend. The laws we pass here, whether on this topic or on any other, are only meaningful to the extent that they are properly enforced. It is my view, as it…18 Apr 2023HANSARD Machetes: ConsultationCan I start by paying tribute again to my hon. Friend for her tireless and very effective campaigning on this topic? This issue is a good example of Members of Parliament raising…18 Apr 2023