First published in Your Harlow, 04.02.24
Letter to Editor: Robert Halfon MP: My condolences to those affected by the recent knife violence in Harlow
Dear Editor,
I want to first extend my heartfelt well wishes and sympathies to the victims and friends and families of the victims who have been affected by the recent knife crime in Harlow. It is wrong that any citizen has to deal with any sort of crime or anti-social behaviour (ASB).
One of the most important ways we reduce crime is prevention through early intervention in education. By providing young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, we can empower them to make the right choices. Back in 2011, I had the opportunity to go to Harlow College to attend their talk on knife crime, raising awareness, providing education on the associated risks, and encouraging reporting. This was a truly enlightening event for not only me but for their students. Harlow College is still a shining beacon of education for preventing crime.
In 2022, the college joined up with Harlow’s Community Policing Team to raise awareness about the threat of knife crime as part of Operation Sceptre Week by setting up knife arches at the main student entrances, with plain clothed police officers also stationed around the borders of the college. These events are invaluable in educating young people on the dangers of knife crime and its negative impacts on both the attacker and victim.
Harlow was also honoured to host the 27ft tall ‘Knife Angel’ sculpture. The Knife Angel, helped to raise awareness about the dangers of carrying a knife. The statue, made of more than 100,000 seized blades, highlights the negatives effects of violent behaviour. We also held a moving vigil in October last year, marking the end of a month of events and educational initiatives which accompanied the Knife Angel’s visit to the town. The piece of art offered our Town a poignant reminder of those who have lost their lives and why it is so important to renounce violence as a means to solve problems.
Essex Police itself also works with partner agencies and charities to help divert people involved in, or at risk of being involved in, knife and violent crime or gang membership away from such lifestyles towards sports, education, volunteering and rehabilitation. Education and raising awareness are vital tools that are being employed to ensure as many people as possible will never be affected by the destruction caused by violent knife crime.
It is the first priority of the Government to protect the public, as such we are focused on strengthening penalties in order to keep Britain’s streets safe. As such the Government will continue to bring forward further measures to toughen sentencing and introduce even more deterrents. New Government introductions and investments into policing have already been working, with crime having gone down in Harlow by 3.6% since last year, ASB alone dropping by 33.4% in our area. This has been supported by the extra 905 police officers in Essex since 2016, making a great addition to the 20,000 more police officers on the streets nationally since 2019. The number of police in Essex as a whole has increased significantly to 3,755, thanks to the extra annual investment of £86m over the last seven years in Essex Police. This in in addition to the £83,000 in funding that has been allocated from the PFCC for Safer Harlow Partnership to focus on tackling ASB and serious crime in Harlow town centre. The Government is helping to and will continue to tackle crime through investment in our police and as such in the safety of our people.
I once again wish to send my prayers and sympathies to those who have been affected by knife violence or any sort of violence in Harlow. For too long, our town has been blighted by crime and anti-social behaviour. This is why I will continue to work with both Harlow Police and the PPFC to crack down on crime as well as working hard in Parliament to deliver tougher sentencing for criminals.
Yours sincerely,
Robert
