Force welcomes cut in red tape

POLICE in Greater Manchester have welcomed a Government initiative designed to give them more time to catch criminals.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans to stop officers having to fill out lengthy “stop and account” forms to free time to tackle knife crime.

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: “The impact of knife crime on people and communities can be devastating, however it has remained fairly stable over the last few years and represents only a small percentage of all crime in our region.

“These new measures should make us more effective in reducing the number of knives and offensive weapons on the streets.

“The biggest frustration of front line officers at the moment is lack of discretion, disproportionate bureaucracy and the target culture.

“These changes, along with others proposed in the recent green paper, will in time enable officers to spend more time on the street where they can have most impact.”

Greater Manchester is one of 10 hotspot areas taking part in the knife crime initiative — alongside Merseyside, Lancashire, London, Essex, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and the Thames Valley.

These areas have been targeted because they account for 70 per cent of the country’s knife crime.

Mr Fahy added: “Over the past two months we have used knife arch equipment to check more than 4,000 people for weapons in our town centres.

“Only a small number of knives have been detected through these operations and have provided a welcome reassurance to the public on the local extent of the problem.

“We are working with our partners in Trading Standards to warn traders of the penalties of selling knives to people under 18. They can now face a prison sentence of up to six months or a fine of up to £5,000.

“We are also working with local authorities and other partners to develop longer-term initiatives that will help educate young people of the dangers of carrying weapons.

“We are committed to reducing the number of knives and offensive weapons on our streets and GMP will take tough action against anyone found to be carrying a knife in a public place.”