Hello

The recent frenzied knife attack on a train in Cambridgeshire, which left multiple people injured and communities shaken, is a stark and painful reminder of the devastating impact knife crime can have.

Although we have seen a 10% reduction in recorded knife crimes across Sussex, we cannot be complacent. One weapon on our streets is one too many.

This week is Sceptre week; a biannual national initiative aimed at reducing knife crime through coordinated police action and engagement with the community. I’m pleased to see that Sussex Police, alongside partner agencies, are taking decisive action to make our communities safer. Their work with schools, colleges, youth services, retailers and community groups is raising awareness about the real dangers of carrying a knife and preventing harm before it happens.

My Safer in Sussex Fund recently awarded a £5,000 grant to the Sussex Community Development Association whose work with the Newhaven Youth Outreach Partnership delivers targeted engagement in parks and public spaces to address safety concerns among young people, including knife crime.

We know that most young people don’t carry knives but, for those who do, we want to make it clear: carrying a weapon doesn’t make you safer. In fact, it puts you at greater risk. Please lose the knife, not a life.

Turning harm into healing

This week is national Restorative Justice (RJ) Week. I introduced RJ in Sussex in 2014 to provide a pathway to healing for victims of crime and an opportunity for offenders to take accountability for the harm they have caused.

David Merrington, an ex-Sussex Police staff member, was one of the first RJ Facilitators in Sussex. During his eleven years of service, David helped facilitate a multitude of RJ conferences, providing those who had been harmed with the answers they were seeking about the crimes committed against them.

In an interview captured at my office, David emphasised the importance of communication in successful RJ conferences. Critically, the victim's voice must be heard and listened to regarding their desired outcomes and preferred process for RJ. You can watch the interview with David on my YouTube channel.

Finally, at my Performance and Accountability Meeting (PAM) this week, the Chief Constable gave her reassurance to the residents of Crowborough and beyond that Sussex Police will increase foot patrols whilst continuing to police the area effectively, proportionately and with impartiality, responding to any reports or crime and disorder when required. Sussex Police is working with partners, including the Home Office, to support wider community reassurance and as more information becomes available, will adapt their policing approach accordingly.

You can catch up on all the discussions at the PAM on my webcasting platform.

Katy Bourne OBE
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner