Agenda item

On a motion from Councillor Paul May, and seconded by Councillor Michelle O’Doherty, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that

Council:

1. Is horrified by incidents of knife crime in Bath and North East Somerset and expresses deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and to all those people who are affected.

2. Notes the Police instruction against reporting, commentary or sharing of information or images online which could in any way prejudice proceedings. Notes that any juvenile defendants are legally entitled to anonymity, and that it is an offence to publicly name them while reporting restrictions are in place.

3. Thanks Police officers, the Ambulance service and other public services for their response.

4. Welcomes the support offered to young people locally by the emergency services, Children’s and Adults social care, voluntary and community organisations and others.

5. Notes with concern that some young people are becoming increasingly afraid of knife crime.

6. Notes that Avon and Somerset Police say the vast majority of young people do not routinely carry knives.

7. Welcomes the preventative work carried out in partnership with the Council by the Police, NHS, Council services, youth and voluntary organisations, and other agencies to tackle the complex root causes of knife crime.

8. Recognises the vital role of the B&NES Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership and Violence Reduction Unit; the Serious Violence Duty of councils and local services, including preparation of a Strategic Needs Assessment and a Strategy by April 2024.

9. Notes the importance of continuing regular engagement between the Council, Police, and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

10. Recognises the importance of education to divert young people away from crime and keep them safe and calls for information and support to continue to be provided through schools and other educational settings.

11. Recognises that Avon and Somerset Police participate in Operation Sceptre, a national initiative to tackle knife crime through education and enforcement.

12. Notes that the Police encourage parents and adults to talk with young people about the dangers and potentially devastating consequences of carrying a knife.

13. Notes that knife surrender bins are provided outside Police stations across the area, including in Bath, Radstock and Keynsham.

14. Supports Police and charity efforts to make emergency bleed control kits publicly accessible and to raise awareness of the role these can play in saving lives.

15. Notes that the BCSSP (B&NES Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership) and Violence Reduction Unit will need to consider the multi-agency response and will determine next steps.

16. Welcomes the proposal by the Children, Adults, Health and Wellbeing PDS Panel to hold an investigation into the issue of young people and knives in B&NES, to identify other successful projects to reduce knife crime and draw up an action plan for B&NES.

17. Suggests that young people impacted by these issues, and their families, should be invited to give evidence of their experiences and inform responses.

18. Welcomes the proposal from the Cabinet member for Children’s Services of holding a multi-agency meeting to brief and listen to parent concerns.

[Notes:

1.  The underlined wording in resolution point 16 above was offered by Councillor Liz Hardman and accepted into the substantive motion by the mover and seconder.]