Engagements

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 November 2016.

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Photo of Theresa May Theresa May The Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative Party 12:00, 16 November 2016

I thank my hon. Friend for raising an issue that is very important for everybody in the House. Certainly the Government will do all they can to support police and crime commissioners such as Roger Hirst, who is already doing an excellent job in Essex. Since 2009, knife crime figures have fallen overall, but I recognise my hon. Friend’s concerns. That is why the Home Office has been supporting police forces such as Essex in conducting weeks of action against knives under Operation Sceptre. We have legislated to ban dangerous knives, including zombie knives. We are putting tough sentences in place and making sure that offenders are punished. We should send a very clear message that we will not tolerate knife crime in this country.