We have seen a deeply alarming rise in knife crime in the UK over the last decade, and Greater Manchester suffers from some of the worst knife crime rates in the country. Knife crime tears families apart and can be devastating for communities, especially when the majority of those affected are young people.
Years of consecutive Conservative Governments have led to a reduction in funding to community services and a failure to crack down on the possession of knives. Under the new government we must recognise the failures of the past and look to rectify them. I am committed to raising awareness for this incredibly important issue and will do what I can to ensure no more lives are lost as a result of knife crime.
Below is a record of my campaigning to reduce knife crime:
2025: Met Families Against Violence in Manchester to discuss their work tackling the causes of youth violence.
2025: Hosted Mero’s World to Parliament for an MP drop-in event on knife violence.
2024: Met Pooja Kanda, who tragically lost her son to knife violence and has been campaigning in his memory.
2024: Wrote a letter to the Home Secretary asking for support for youth hubs in Manchester Rusholme to encourage young people away from knife crime.
2024: Posted my support for Professor Erinma Bell’s appearance on BBC Breakfast.
2024: Website post supporting Labour plans on knife crime.
2024: Interview by Moods Radio UK and UoM SU on issues including knife crime.
2024: Spoke in debate in Parliament during Knife Crime Awareness Week.
2024: Website post after meeting with the Policing Minister.
2024: Met with the Minister for Policing, Chris Philp MP to discuss the knife crime epidemic.
2024: Website post following question to Policing Minister.
2024: Question to Minister for Policing on knife crime in Greater Manchester.
2024: Supported Idris Elba’s Don’t Stop Your Future campaign.
2023: Joined in with the Greater Manchester Anti-Knife crime walk in Fallowfield.
2023: Met with Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s lead on knife crime to discuss the work she has been doing with the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit.
2023: Feature in Manchester Evening News as GMP respond to request for a meeting.
2023: Wrote to the Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, to ask for a meeting to discuss GMP’s strategy.
2022: Attended a Fallowfield Easter Family Fun Day to raise funds for more bleed kits and to deliver first aid training and education.
2022: Website post about the Mero’s World organisation.
2021: Met with the family of Rhamero West, my constituent who tragically lost his life to knife crime.
2020: Spoke to SNGMedia about knife crime.
2019: Raised knife crime, police cuts, and youth service funding in Parliament during Crime and Antisocial Behaviour debate.
2019: Spoke in Parliament’s Emergency Summit on Knife Crime.
2019: Westminster Hall debate
2019: Appeared on Channel 4 to discuss knife crime.
2019: Spoke in the House of Commons chamber on knife crime.
2019: Spoke to BBC Radio Manchester about the impact of police cuts on knife crime.
2018: Platformed the voice of student constituent on knife crime.
2018: Spoke in Parliament on knife crime and police cuts.
2018: Spoke at an Anson Cabin Project event on knife crime.