PCC Donna Jones pledges to continue to tackle knife crime

This comes as police forces across the country carry out a week of action, known as Operation Sceptre, which focusses on getting the weapons off our streets.

Despite a 27.6 per cent decrease in knife crime across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over the past two years, PCC Donna Jones highlighted that more needs to be done.

The violence reduction unit estimates that serious violence by under-18s cost taxpayers in these two counties more than £18m in the last year.

Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones has reiterated her commitment to tackling knife crime. (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner)

Ms Jones said: "It is reassuring to see the data around knife crime is showing good progress for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but I still see young men being drawn into a world where they feel they have to carry a knife to be safe.

"This is where our focus must be. These children are highly vulnerable to exploitation.

"I am not advocating for a soft approach to children who commit serious harm but we need to understand what drives their behaviour and work together to challenge that."

Projects run by the violence reduction unit and local authority partners have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in PCC funding to tackle the root causes of crime.

The youth justice and children's services teams collaborate with the police to identify and disrupt individuals who exploit young people.

Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones has reiterated her commitment to tackling knife crime. (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner)

Ms Jones believes that improved information sharing is essential.

She said: "School teachers, social workers and health professionals hold key information about people at risk.

"Equally, the police need to let other partners know when children are being drawn into exploitation and violence."

Rob Henderson, executive director Wellbeing (Children & Learning) at Southampton City Council, said: "Safeguarding children who are vulnerable to exploitation and violence is one of Southampton City Council’s main priorities.

"That’s why we welcome the Police and Crime Commissioner’s funding."

Superintendent Alex Charge from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: "As a police service we understand that our response to children involved in serious violence must take into account what is happening in the child’s life.

"That’s why PCC funding of projects like Southampton’s ‘Future Directions’ programme allows us to work more closely with partners to make the city safer and prevent future risk to children."