New court orders to boost efforts to crack down on knife crime will be piloted in 4 police forces, Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced.
The four forces – Thames Valley, West Midlands, Merseyside and Sussex – will trial the introduction of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs), which give the police new stop and search powers to target convicted knife and offensive weapons offenders.
The orders are designed to ensure convicted offenders are steered away from crime and, if they persist in carrying a knife or an offensive weapon, that they are more likely to be caught and put in prison.
Jay Singh-Sohal, the West Midlands PCC candidate said:
"In the West Midlands, violent crime has nearly tripled since the last Police and Crime Commissioner election five years ago – while serious issues including knife crime, domestic abuse and weapons possession are causing heartache and concern for residents across the region. I welcome the Home Secretary giving the West Midlands new powers and court orders to tackle this crisis – and if elected PCC, I will work closely with her to ensure we get violent crime down."
For more information about Jay's plan to get crime down visit www.jaysinghsohal.org.uk
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