Tatton MP Esther McVey has warned government it must allow police to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying a weapon - to tackle the scourge in fatal stabbings.
As Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to host a major knife crime summit in Downing Street on Monday (APR1), Ms McVey said the move could help prevent more unnecessary deaths.
She said: “Stop and search needs to be used more regularly to save lives. It is about enabling the police and supporting them to do the best job they can possibly do.
“Obviously when people are stopped and searched it is intelligence-led, it is done for a reason.
“You see the massive drop since 2010 on the number of stop and searches and now look at the knife crime incidences.
“We have a brilliant police force and we have to enable them not to be frightened to do their job well.”
Earlier this month 17-year-old Yousef Ghaleb Makki was fatally stabbed in Hale Barns. One 17 years old boy charged with his murder will stand trial this summer and another 17 year old was charged with possession of a bladed article and assisting an offender.
Ms McVey added: “Knife crime is happening everywhere and we all need to do everything we can to stop it. Reinstating powers to police is one way and it could prevent unnecessary deaths. Yousef Makki had his whole life ahead of him and was said to have wanted to become a heart surgeon. This is happening on our doorstep too it is not inner city London - I fully support Cheshire Police in all their attempts to tackle knife crime and stop any more young people dying.”
According to the Home Office stop and search numbers have fallen by 75 per cent since 2010. In England and Wales in 2017/18 there were 277,378 stop and searches recorded the equivalent of five per 1,000 people – down from 23 per 1,000 people in 2009/10.
While searches fall fatal stabbings have increased with latest figures showing 285 deaths in 2017/18.
On Monday Mrs May will host the summit with ministers, community leaders, agencies and experts to explore how to tackle the scourge in knife crime.
