Alongside promises of better support, Labour is also promising ‘real consequences’ for knife crime.
A Labour government would launch a £100 million youth programme to tackle knife crime, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The new plan, an echo of New Labour’s SureStart childcare scheme, would see a nationwide targeted programme aimed at identifying and supporting young people at risk of being drawn into violent crime.
Alongside promises of better support, Labour is also promising “real consequences” for knife crime with an end to “empty warnings and apology letters” for those guilty of knife possession.
Set to be unveiled during the latest stop on Sir Keir’s campaigning “missions tour” of the UK, the policy aims to better co-ordinate local services in an effort to bring down levels of knife crime.
“Too many young people are being drawn into squandering their life chances by getting involved in crime. A government that I lead won’t think we can press release away soaring youth crime,” Sir Keir said.
“No more apology letters, no more weak warnings. If you carry a knife, you’ll carry the consequences. But this is not just about sanctions once the choices have been made. I saw as chief prosecutor the power of prevention – lives are being lost to knife crime because Tory governments don’t.”
Labour said the interventionist Young Futures plan has been informed by Sir Keir’s time as director of public prosecutions.
Set to draw on £100 million a year, the party said it would include a network of hubs for young people with youth workers placed in A&E units, custody centres and communities.
Mentors will also be placed in pupil referral units, with funding for the plan coming from the commitment to charge 20% VAT on private school fees, as well as from recouping the full cost of gun licensing and promised public sector reforms.
The support measures will be accompanied by a promise of tougher sanctions for those carrying knives, with every offender required to be referred to a youth offending team and receive a mandatory and “bespoke” action plan to prevent re-offending.
Tougher guidance would also be introduced to ensure serious penalties, including curfews or tagging, are considered where appropriate.
Sir Keir said: “We will give young people real support to achieve their potential and stay on track, but flout that chance and they’ll feel the full force of the law.”
It comes as the party said it would oversee a “total crackdown” on the availability of knives on British streets, promising a comprehensive ban that would also target the sale of dangerous knives online including “Rambo” knives, swords and machetes.
The party has hit out at the delay in ministers legislating to ban zombie-style knives, after it was promised last August.
Conservative policing minister Chris Philp said: “This is just another reheated pledge from the Labour Party using money they have already spent seven times.
“They cannot say what their plan actually is. Because just like their reckless £28 billion-a-year spending spree they don’t have a plan – meaning higher taxes for the British people.”
