Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner launches plan to tackle knife crime
A new plan to tackle knife crime has been launched by Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner, aiming to protect young people from being drawn into serious violence.
New figures show the Cleveland force area had the third highest rate of knife crime in the country for the last year on record, behind only West Midlands Police and London's Metropolitan Police.
137 knife crimes were committed per 100,000 people in Cleveland in 2023-24, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The new action plan, unveiled at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, identifies four key themes.
Firstly, the plan aims to prevent violent crime through education and offering alternatives to violence, including school programmes, youth activities, and support for families.
The force also wants to step in with early intervention, as well as giving people long-terms skills and opportunities to try to stop them getting into knife crime in the first place.
Another part of Cleveland Police's strategy will involve getting the community to play an active role in preventing knife crime.
The force is looking to build on a Knife Crime Summit it held in March with other emergency services.
As part of the launch of the plan, a 'bleed cabinet' is being donated to the Riverside Stadium.
These specialised first aid kits typically contain dressings, tourniquets and gloves to allow a member of the public to help control severe bleeding until professional help arrives.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: 'The ultimate goal of the Knife Crime Action Plan is to build on the work already being done to make sure individuals have the tools and support to avoid them becoming involved in knife crime and serious violence."
Chief Inspector Stuart Hodgson, Cleveland Police's lead on Knife Crime said: 'By working together to create a hostile environment for knife carriers, engaging with our communities and educating youngsters on the dangers of carrying knives, we can make a change and reduce knife crime.'
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