PCC joins national taskforce to tackle knife related robberies

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster visited the Home Secretary and Minister for Policing in London for the first meeting of the new taskforce.

The group, consisting of the Home Secretary, the Minister of Policing, Police and Crime Commissioners, and Mayors from seven areas, focuses on tackling knife-related robberies in the areas with the highest rate of 'knife-enabled robberies'.

The new group will meet monthly for the next six months to discuss strategies and assess what actions can be taken to reduce the number of crimes affecting the UK.

Attending the meeting, PCC Simon Foster said: "Recent data shows there has been a 13% reduction in serious youth violence across the West Midlands.

“This means the work of the Violence Reduction Partnership, West Midlands Police and our other partners is starting to have a positive impact and is bringing violence down.

"The task force forms part of the Government's safer Streets mission to halve the number of knife crime incidents in a decade.

Mr Foster continued: "Whilst this is welcome, we are not complacent and never will be.

"I am keen to work with my counterparts across the country and with central government to see how we can bring efforts and resources together, to reduce knife-enabled robberies and crime, and keep our communities safe.

"The commissioner chairs the board which oversees the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).

The VRP has a key focus on preventing youth violence and knife crime. 

They do this by tackling a huge range of projects including, education, youth workers and bespoke tailored support for young people in places like schools, hospitals and police custody centres.