Coventry MP questions prime minister on violent crime rise after murder of teen Jaydon James - The Coventry Observer

Coventry MP questions prime minister on violent crime rise after murder of teen Jaydon James

Coventry Editorial 13th Dec, 2018   0

A COVENTRY MP has questioned the prime minister on rises in violent crime after the tragic murder of Jaydon James, 16.

Coventry North East Labour MP Colleen Fletcher recently spoke in parliament about children at a primary school in her constituency being too scared to play in a nearby park due to crime increases.

And yesterday she demanded answers from PM Theresa May on the diminishing police presence in the region.

Jaydon James was fatally stabbed in Wood End, Deedmore Road, while with his friends on Saturday, November 24.




Ms Fletcher said: “Last month in my constituency a 16-year-old boy was tragically killed in a knife attack.

“This came as knife crime has almost doubled in Coventry over the last five years.


“I know that some good multi-agency work is happening in this field.

“But does the prime minster still think we have enough police officers on our streets to be able to fight crime and the fear of crime?”

Mrs May said: “Can I first of all extend my condolences to the family of the constituent the honourable lady has referred to who has suffered from this terrible attack.

“I recognise the concern about the rise in violent crime.

“That’s why the government has produced the Serious Violence Strategy and taskforce which has people from across the house sitting on that.

“We have given extra powers to the police to tackle knife crime and we are giving that through the Offensive Weapons Bill and we have strengthened firearms control through the Policing and Crime Act.

“This isn’t just about police action. We have announced the £200million Youth Endowment Fund which will be about helping to work with young people – who otherwise might find themselves drawn into gangs and the use of knives – to prevent them from doing that and prevent these crimes from taking place in the first place.”

Crime rose in Coventry by 12 per cent in 2017/18 and knife crime in particular has been hitting the headlines.

As we first reported, the number of incidents in the city has increased from 164 in 2012/13 to 307 by the end of 2017/18.

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