Police get £51m bumper funding package to stem blood flow of stabbings on hot bank holiday Easter weekend
POLICE have been handed an extra £51million to stem the blood flow from stabbings ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Coppers got an extra pot of money to strengthen their response to serious violence ahead of what’s set to be a scorching few days.
It will be targeted towards 18 areas which are worst affected by stabbings and violent crime – and they can decide hot to spend it.
Most are expected to boost the numbers of bobbies on the beat to deter violence and more weapons sweeps to grab hold of dangerous weapons.
The money comes from the £100million pot that the Chancellor promised in the Spring Statement – as revealed by The Sun earlier this year.
Home Secretary Said Javid said the cash would help in the “fight against serious violence”.
He added: “Knife crime destroys lives and as Home Secretary I’m determined to do everything in my power to stamp it out.
“This funding will help the police forces worst affected by violent crime to up their response, including by increasing the number of officers out on the streets over the Easter weekend.”
And National Police Chiefs Council Martin Hewitt added: “This will help forces to carry out activity that we know works, such as increasing the number of officers available to carry out targeted patrols in crime hotspots and increase our use of stop and search.”
MOST READ IN POLITICS
But he said that more solutions involving teams from across government would be the only way to stop the attacks.
Mr Javid said earlier this week that violent crime needed to be treated like a “disease” to properly root it out – as he backed the use of more stop and search to crack down on crime.
In a major speech which was seen as a thinly veiled leadership bid, the Home Secretary told how he was scared for his own daughters’ safety, and admitted that he could have been dragged into a life of crime if it weren’t for his amazing parents and teachers.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours