Revealed: Children as young as five involved in Shropshire knife crime
Children as young as five have been involved in knife crime in Shropshire, figures released today reveal.
And attacks involving knives in the county are generally rising, reflecting a national trend.
Police logs show that two boys, including a five-year-old, were caught in March this year by officers carrying a bread knife.
And last year police were called to three incidents involving another five-year-old boy, including one in which two children had been 'stabbed' by a round-ended knife that caused no injury.
For the first half of 2017 there were 142 reported knife-related crimes across Shropshire – and in 16 cases the suspect or offender has been under the age of 13.
Last year there were a total of 282 knife crimes in Shropshire and 294 in 2015. These compare to 2014 when there were 187and 2013 where there were 174.
West Mercia Police Chief Superintendent Charles Hill said: “We acknowledge that, in line with national data, there has been an increase in reported knife crime in the county and we understand the concern this may cause to people.
"We have seen the devastating effects knife crime can have on victims, their friends and family and the wider community. We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice and educating people on the dangers and consequences associated with carrying a knife. There is a particular focus on educating children."
Both knife-related incidents involving five-year-olds happened in the Telford area and the majority of recorded youth crime involving a blade happens within the town.
But the tragic consequences of young people carrying a knife were shown in August last year when 16-year-old Michael Warham was stabbed to death in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury. The man accused of killing him is also a teenager, 19-year-old Declan Graves.
West Mercia Police says it will respond to rising knife crime by launching a campaign in which people will be urged to hand in weapons at stations in Telford and Shrewsbury.
Chief Superintendent Hill said: “Officers continue to use our stop and search powers to target those people who carry knives and arrest offenders. We are asking the public to let us know of any concerns."
