Meeting called after knife-related incidents

An emergency meeting focussed on tackling knife crime has been called after three serious incidents in a town.

Campaigners and politicians will meet in Redditch, Worcestershire, in January after three knife-related incidents in the past six weeks.

Chris Bloore, the Labour MP for Redditch, called the meeting which will discuss concerns, including over where funding is being spent.

A man with a knife was shot dead by police on Christmas Eve after a standoff with armed officers. Also in December, a video went viral showing teenagers apparently fighting with knives in the town centre.

And in November Cheryl McKenna, 44, was found fatally stabbed.

Mr Bloore said it was time to have a "high profile" sit down, including to discuss the allocation of money going into communities.

He said West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion will join others at the meeting.

"Whenever there's an incident like this of course it shakes the confidence of people in the area," said Mr Bloore.

Pete Martin, of the Redditch Self Defence Association, said more resources were needed in the area to tackle knife incidents.

"I think it's about making sure the right resources are going to the right projects," he said.

"I think there has been a slight frustration in the past that we've had a national one size fits all approach for projects and commitments when actually we need quite tailored responses on the ground."

Mr Martin added, despite knife crime numbers falling in Redditch, more needed to be done.

He has spoken to thousands of pupils on the subject, but due to a lack of funding, said he had been forced to turn down some schools who asked him to talk.

"We obviously need to do more," he said.

"We've got the tools to do it, we've got the plans to do it, we just need the resources.

"We know we can make a difference and we're just looking to work with Chris to put these plans into action."

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