HERE is what the Superintendent of St Helens Community Policing has to say about a recent spate of knife crime in the area, and what police are doing to tackle it.

Like many areas of the UK, St Helens has fallen victim to several instances of knife crime over the years, some resulting in loss of life and many more leading to injuries – some life altering.

 

What incidents?

The Star has reported on a few separate incidents in relation to suspected knife crime in St Helens over the past month.

These have included two alleged stabbings in St Helens town centre and an incident at King George V Playing Fields in Haydock.

On Easter Monday afternoon, April 10, a man in his 20s suffered stab wounds to his body.

Police received a report that at around 3.20pm, three friends were at the rear of shops on King George V Playing Fields, in Haydock, when they were approached by a group of teenagers aged 14 and 15, and one pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the men.

Meanwhile, the previous night, on Easter Sunday a grandmother, was injured on the doorstep of her Moss Bank home.

She was allegedly punched in the face and slashed across the face with a knife on her doorstep.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, affray and possession of a controlled Class B drug (cannabis) following an incident.treet on April 2 (Image: St Helens Star) In another incident the previous week, on Sunday, April 2, a 15-year-old boy had suffered a "slash wound to the face" and had to be rushed to hospital for his injuries.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with wounding with intent in connection with the incident.

Also, last month, on March 5, police were called at 1.15am to Ormskirk Street after reports that a man had been stabbed in St Helens town centre.

Police inquiries established that the violence took place in an alleyway off Ormskirk Street, near to NatWest Bank.

Two men, both 19, were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and affray, and have been conditionally bailed pending further inquiries.

So what are police doing to tackle this?

Supt of St Helens Policing Steve Brizell said: “The main approach to tackling knife crime is a partnership approach – we cannot police our way out of the knife crime problems we face, it is a complex social problem.

“We work together with the Local Authority including the Safer St Helens Team, Schools, Education and the Youth Justice Service. We also work closely with local youth groups and charities across St Helens to deter young people and adults from carrying knives.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime offences and will on every occasion seek the strongest penalties we can from the criminal justice system when we charge people with knife crime offences.”

Here are examples of work undertaken recently by police.

 Regular inputs across Primary and Secondary schools by dedicated Safer Schools Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers raising awareness of the impact that knife crime has on individuals, families, and victims. During these inputs the officers will highlight the dangers of carrying a knife. These inputs are hard hitting but are age appropriate for the ages of the children being spoken to.

 Police also work closely with The Daniel Fox Foundation - who have been funded by the Police through the Proceeds of Crime Act and also funding through the Local Authority to attend schools across St Helens and neighbouring Boroughs talking about the impact that Danny’s death has had on everyone connected with him.

 Police have funded work through Parr Sports and Social Club to again provide young people in St Helens with advice, guidance and mentoring supporting them to make better choices and understand the effects that violence has on them and any victims. We have also worked in a similar way with the Think Fast Academy via Martin Murray but targeted at young people who are involved further with gangs and violence.

 Police officers are allocated specific knife crime hotspot areas to patrol to provide a highly visible presence. This may sound like normal police activity, but it is specifically targeted to certain areas and times based on nationally accredited academic research that has proved to be successful in tackling serious violence.

 Knife Wands have been funded twice over the last two years via the Police and the Local Authority. With Knife Wands allocated to Bars and Clubs within the Town Centre in order to deter people from carrying knives in the night-time economy - their continued use is checked by Police Officers regularly patrolling in the Town Centre.

 Police have delivered two events that co-ordinate and highlight the amount of support that exists for partners across St Helens to work together to tackle, vulnerability, crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour. These events called ‘St Helens Connects’ have been set up in the Town Hall and delivered by the Community Policing Team and the Local Authority, working together to provide a day of networking and professional discussion that facilitates these groups being able to work together to make St Helens a safer place.

We put further questions to Supt Steve Brizell, here is what he had to say.

Q. These new SVRO powers have been introduced, what would this mean to those found with a knife?

Steve, said: “There are several aspects to the new SVRO’s however the main element to this legislation is that Police Officers would have the power to stop and search a person (in a public place) who is subject to an SVRO to ascertain whether they have a bladed article or offensive weapon with them.

“To get an SVRO the person must be over 18. A significant aspect to his new legislation is that officers do not need the usual specific grounds to search a person the legislation allows the officers to search based on the fact that the person being searched has an SVRO in place.

“However, the power must be used by police officers fairly, responsibly and without unlawful discrimination. There is significant amount of evaluation and governance for the Police sitting over the use of SVRO’s to ensure that the power is used correctly To get an SVRO an offender must be convicted of a crime where they have used a knife or offensive weapon when committing the offence or carried a knife or offensive weapon on them when committing the offence. An accomplice in those offences above could also be subject an SVRO if they knew or ought to have known that the other person was carrying or using a knife or offensive weapon.

Q. What would you say to parents and guardians as the warm weather approaches, which will lead to the age group most at risk of knife crime coming together in parks and outdoor spaces.

Steve, added: “To parents and guardians, I would say –  Know where your children are at all times and who they are with.

 If you suspect they are involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal behaviour speak to them, explain the impact that their behaviour can on the community, their future, their family and on St Helens as a place to live and enjoy.

 If you suspect they carry knives or weapons again speak to them challenge their view point and point out the risks of carrying a weapon. A significant number of people who carry weapons get that weapon taken off them and used against them.

 If you have any information on those people who carry knives, please use Crimestoppers – it is an independent charity, information you leave is completely anonymous. It can be accessed via their website (just google Crimestoppers) or via telephone as a freephone number 0800 555111. Or contact Merseyside Police directly via our social media desk on Twitter or Facebook, or call 101.