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A veteran Tory MP has suggested young people could practise judo or taekwondo in order to protect themselves from knife attacks.

Sir Christopher Chope made the bizarre suggestion during a question and answer session with Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson at a Home Affairs Select Committee hearing today.

Sir Christopher, who had previously attempted to block upskirting from being made a specific criminal offence, said people could try to learn martial arts and “get fitter” to protect themselves from violent knife-based attacks.

The 71-year-old MP for Putney likened people learning judo to defend against knife crime to women learning self-defence to ward off attacks.

Mr Thompson hit back telling Sir Christopher the best defence when confronted with a knife is to "run away as fast as you can."

Sir Christopher said: "One of the ways in which people can be prepared is by, for example, doing judo, taekwondo, being physically able and taught how to deal with a situation where you are threatened with a knife.

"Do you think there is something to be said for actually increasing the encouragement of young people so they don't have to take a knife out, they can protect themselves by actually knowing how to deal with such an incident, were it to arise?"

Mr Thompson replied: "The best knife (crime) prevention technique is to run away as fast as you can, it genuinely is."

Sir Christopher replied: "But you need to be fit to do that."

The West Midlands chief said that while boxing and martial arts are popular, particularly among young men, and can take them off the streets, he would "probably not see it as a strategy to increase their street-based combat skills".

He said: "I'd probably not advocate a strategy of increasing the combat readiness in martial arts of young people in general, but what we do see with those types of groups there is some attraction to those sports."

Mr Chope, MP for Christchurch, suggested it could be an alternative to carrying a knife to "protect yourself by being fitter and more able to deal with that sort of attack" in the same way that women are taught self-defence.

Ms Dick said "meaningful, purposeful activity is always good for all of us" and that "sports and adrenaline-filled activities which can get out frustrations" had proved constructive for young people.

The two officers answered questions on the recent surge in violent crime, and agreed that violent deaths among young people are at the worst levels they have seen in their careers.

Ms Dick said: "The last couple of years undoubtedly have been the highest and most worrying levels in my service.

"It's deeply worrying, it's a horrible set of offences, definitely more younger people involved. More knives involved in the serious violence on the street.

"If you look at stabbings of young people I do think this is a new and tragic and worrying phenomenon."

However she told MPs there has been a 15% reduction in knife crime on victims under 25 in the year to date and the number of homicides is down.

There were 44 violent deaths in London by March 26 last year, compared with 29 in 2019.

Additional reporting by Press Association