West Midlands MP calling for government help to curb knife crime
MP for West Bromwich, Sarah Coombes, raised her concerns in parliament
An MP from the West Midlands has called on the Government to help tackle the knife crime problem in the region.
Sarah Coombes, who is the MP for West Bromwich, delivered a speech in parliament on the subject on Tuesday (21st Jan).
Why is knife crime a problem in the West Midlands?
She told us the issue is at the top of her agenda:
"When you are an MP and you meet a mother who has received a knock on her door in the morning, to find out her son has been killed, you have got to try and do something about it.
"Too many parents have received that knock on the door and too many parents fear that knock," she said.
Coombes was elected in July, as the Labour MP for West Bromwich.
She told us there is a wider impact to knife crime: "it has a huge impact on communities and businesses in the town centre. It is my role as an MP to stand up and speak about these issues."
What did MP Sarah Coombes say in parliament?
During the discussion in parliament, Coombes said she spoke with young people, families affected by knife crime and a criminal involved in a knife attack.
She shared these thoughts from what she had learned:
"A young person told me: gang violence and knife crime is getting worse in my area. We need more youth centres and funding to help stop this.
"Perhaps the most important thing is education, early intervention and constant support for young people who could get caught up in violence," she said.