Each night on MKFM, we are being joined by key decision makers and holding them to account in an exclusive week of interviews.
Following recent crime trends, MKFM is hosting an exclusive week of crime interviews where we put your questions to key decision makers.
Last night (4/4), we put your questions to the Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber.
Matthew Barber was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner on 10th May 2021 with a majority of nearly 80,000. Matthew is Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire. The PCC's role is to hold the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police to account for the performance of the Force, effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.
Working as a a representative for the public, the PCCs also has a wider role in promoting community safety and working with criminal justice partners to improve support for victims of crime.
During Matthew Barber's interview with MKFM, knife crime was one of the main topics that people in Milton Keynes wanted to be discussed.
We asked Matthew Barber why he thinks more young people are carrying knives in Milton Keynes.
MKFM asked if the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police felt that cuts to youth clubs and education are the cause.
"I think there's a whole mix of things and I think there's definitely a bit of a culture around the knife carrying. People often cite the areas such as youth work and it's one of the areas that my office, we invest quite heavily, in community groups and diversionary work through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)." Matthew Barber said.
"I think that all plays a part but I think it's also a bit too easy to say there's not enough youth provision so people carry knives. There are lots of benefits to having strong youth provision in a community whether that's provided by the voluntary sector or local councils but that doesn't automatically mean that people need to carry knives.
"What we are seeing though is that wider culture where perhaps it starts off in schools or whether its to perceive status or fear of others who are carrying knives, but we definitely see that status, that growing rise of people willing to carry knives at a relatively early age.
"I think the response to that has to go well beyond policing."
When asked if there was a disconnect between police,schools and parents, Matthew Barber responded: "We probably need to involve parents a lot more in the conversation."
He said: "Ultimately, there's a big role for parents in this to understand what their children are doing, where they are and who they're associating with.
"I think anybody with children would want to know what their children are up to. Sadly, we see some of the exploitation that children experience through county lines gangs and there are tell-tale signs that parents might be the first ones to spot.
"There is help out there through schools and with the police to tackle those things at an early age."
We asked Matthew Barber if parents should be asking their children if they are carrying a knife, Matthew Barber said: "It seems like an odd conversation to have, a difficult conversation potentially, but yes, ask your children.
"Ask if they know someone who they are associated with who does, or they think who does. There are operations in place with the police where we will work with schools and parents to try and get to children early.
"I would much rather find a 14/15 year old lad who carries a knife and the parents have told us, the teachers have told us and we can intervene early, try and work out why that individual is carrying a knife and stop them doing it."
Listen to the full interview below:
TONIGHT AT 7PM - Ben Everitt answers your questions on MKFM.
Listen tonight from 7pm on 95.0/102.1/106.3FM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on your mobile or smart speaker to hear the full interview with Ben Everitt.
Full details of how to listen here.
MKFM CRIME WEEK SCHEDULE -
Tuesday 5th April 7PM - Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North
Wednesday 6th April 7PM - Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council
Thursday 7th April 7PM - Chief Inspector Livingstone, Deputy Commander for MK
Friday 8th April 7PM - Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South
Monday 11th April 7PM - Cllr Robin Bradburn
