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New figures have been published showing knife crime is at its highest level for seven years.

In the last year alone, knife crime in Leicestershire has risen by 25 per cent. The increasing trend of people carrying and ultimately using knives, not only here in Leicester but across the country, is extremely worrying and must be tackled head on.

In my own constituency, our local police have made a number of arrests to tackle the growing incidences of knife crime. Their “Knives not Lives” campaign aims to educate young people about the devastating consequences knife crime can have.

I am seriously concerned that Government cuts, which have resulted in the loss of over 450 police officers in Leicestershire since 2010, make it harder for the police to do their job. The increasing pressures they are facing mean their time and resources are being spread even more thinly across the city.

I’m campaigning for the return of neighbourhood policing. People who know and regularly see their local police teams not only feel safer, but are also more likely to engage with the police and provide the information necessary to tackle and prevent crime.

(Image: Leicestershire Police response officers on Twitter (@LeicsResponse))

However, the police alone cannot solve the problem of knife crime. We know from other parts of the UK, and other countries, that where we treat knife crime as a public health issue, real differences can be seen.

A public health approach means bringing together different agencies, and the community, to tackle the issue together.

Some of the best work being done to tackle knife crime is where those who used to be involved in gangs or knife crime, or families who have lost a child, talk to young people about their experiences and the consequences of carrying a knife.

It’s vital that we invest in our youth services and outreach workers so young people have something to do and someone to turn to for help and support if they need it.

The impact of social media must also be addressed.

Too many of our young people are becoming victims of bullying, attacks and threats online, which can fuel the escalation of violence.

Above all we need to work with our schools, colleges and careers services to ensure there are opportunities for young people to get the skills and qualifications they need to secure a decent job and build a better life.

Knife crime has a devastating impact on victims, families and local communities.

We need to do more to tackle this problem – giving the police the resources they need to do their job, investing in local services to prevent crime from happening in the first place, and offering genuine hope and opportunity for all young people so they can have confidence in their future.