Knife Crime Prevention Orders

Magistrates’ Courts (Knife Crime Prevention Orders) Rules 2020, that come into force from 30 March 2020, are to set out the application process, rules about review, variation, discharge and appeal.

Also the Home Office has announced that from April 2020 the new powers to tackle knife crime will be piloted by the Metropolitan Police. The pilot will run for 14 months from 6 April, with the intention to introduce the orders across all police forces.

Source: Gov.uk1 and Gov.uk2

Youth Select Committee Report on Knife Crime

The British Youth Council Youth Select Committee 2019 has published a report titled Our Generation’s Epidemic: Knife Crime which presents the findings of an inquiry into knife crime. The topic was chosen as part of a UK-wide ballot, with 1.1 million young people voting knife crime as their biggest concern.

The report contains four chapters each focusing on a different topic. They are:

• The Government’s approach to knife crime
• Factors which can affect a young person’s likelihood of becoming involved in knife crime
• Suggestions of what could be done to prevent young people becoming involved in knife crime
• Effective interventions to stop young people from continuing to be involved in knife crime

The report can be read in full here.

Source: UK Parliament

Code of Practice on Armed Policing and Police use of Less Lethal Weapons

The College of Policing has released a new code of practise on armed policing and police use of less lethal weapons. It replaces the 2003 Code of Practice for the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons. The guidance sets out principles in relation to specialist munitions, firearms used by police as well as the responsibilities of the chief officers in armed policing.

Also it is to promote compatibility of operational procedures between forces and support operations involving officers from more than one force.

Source: College of Policing

New Code of Practice for Armed Policing to be Published

The Home Office has announced that a new code of practice will be published for armed policing in response to the Grainger Inquiry.

The code of practice will be published by the College of Policing and will replace the 2003 Code of Practice for the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.

Source: Gov.uk

Police leaders to start bidding for more tasers from today

As part of the new Police Powers and Protection Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech in January 2020 more officers are to deploy with tasers to better protect themselves and others from harm. On 13 January 2020 the Home Office launched a portal where Police and Crime Commissioners can put forward bids for funding to equip more of its force officers with tasers in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

Source: Gov.uk

010/2019: Firearms Regulations 2019 and the Firearms (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2019

The Home Office has published the circular 010/2019: Firearms Regulations 2019 and the Firearms (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2019 which will take effect on 12 December 2019.

As a result of this amendment police forces have agreed that a condition on secure storage will be added to certificates when an application for grant, variation or renewal is received. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) will circulate advise to forces on how to do this, however, in the interim forces will make their own arrangements.

Source: Gov.uk

School Exclusions and Knife Crime

This paper provides a summary of findings in response the below questions.

1. What is driving the current rise in school exclusions?
2. Is there a link between rising school exclusions and rising levels of knife crime?
3. What can be done to prevent exclusion from mainstream education, particularly of young people who may be at risk of involvement in serious violence?
4. What happens to young people when they are excluded from school? How do we effectively safeguard them and ensure they access effective education?

It also provides a range of practical recommendations which the Government should implement to help combat the problem and keep vulnerable children and young people safe.

For the full report click here.

Firearms security handbook 2019

The Home Office has published the Firearms security handbook 2019 developed by the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group (FELWG), the National Police Chiefs Council in England, Wales and Scotland, and the British Shooting Sports Council.

The handbook includes:

• guidance on storing and transporting firearms safely
• information on construction standards for gun cabinets, armoury rooms, etc
• illustrations of construction points in a gun cabinet

Whilst the handbook is predominately for members of the public, it also provides guidance for the police, museums and galleries that display firearms, and people who display firearms for business purposes.

Source: Gov.uk

New technology to detect knives in public places

The Home Office has announced a funded trial will take place in Stratford Station of new technology designed to safely detect weapons such as guns and knives. The technology, made by the British company Thruvision, can detect devices under clothing up to 30 feet.

The technology works by revealing objects concealed that block a person’s body heat. These objects can then be identified by police officers. The technology is already used on the Los Angeles Metro.

The trial, which will initially last for five days, will be run by the British Transport Police, with support from the Metropolitan Police.

Source: GOV.UK

Durham Police to offer all frontline officers Tasers

Newly appointed chief constable Jo Farrell said it would help protect officers who were “too often” assaulted while at work. The Durham Police Federation said it supported the move but human rights group Amnesty UK has expressed “serious concerns” about Tasers and how overuse could lead to unnecessary deaths.

Source: BBC