Three people dead, 12 rapes and 287 robberies in just three months... does Greater Manchester have a knife crime 'pandemic'?
Ibraheem Ali was a 'loving, caring and kind young man'. His mum described the 19-year-old as the 'kind of son I wish all mothers to have'.
In the latest incident a man was attacked with what witnesses described as a machete outside an Asda in Chadderton on Friday night. "When I was younger something might kick off and that would be it, you'd probably never see those lads again," he said. "Now if something kicks off, someone gets a name, searches them up on SnapChat or whatever, finds out where they hang about or pretty much where they live and before you know there's direct contact.
"Clearly there are now more young people willing to take that risk [to carry a knife]. Anecdotally what we are seeing more and more is young people wanting to be seen to be powerful and cool, to be seen to be a gangster. "A lot of kids are trying to be cool and fit in with no thought of what the consequences can be. I remember thinking I was invincible but, after losing my brother, I saw the end result of what I was doing."
A record number of people were stabbed to death in England and Wales last year. Official statistics show 282 people, including 69 teenagers, died as a result of a knife attack - the highest number since records began 76 years ago. But knife-related crime in Greater Manchester actually fell in the 12 months to January 2023, according to figures provided by Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Year-on-year 168 fewer knife crimes were reported in 2022 - a drop of almost 4 per cent.
But despite that Prof Bannister said it's still difficult to work exact figures on knife crime as many victims never go to the police. "That's the $64m question," he said. She said her officers were seizing knives 'most days' using stop-and-search powers in 'hotspot' areas and were working with the Border Force to stop weapons coming into the country.
Supt Hemingway says 'positive' steps had been taken to combat the scourge of knife crime in Greater Manchester, but admitted there was 'still a way to go'. As part of the work of the VRU youngsters are being educated about the role of social media in exacerbating feuds, school engagement officers regularly speak to kids about the dangers and consequences of carrying a blade, while a scheme known as the Greater Manchester Navigator Programme helps young victims of knife crime recover from their experience and stay away from future trouble.
"Unfortunately it seems like at the moment schools are doing their bit, police are doing what they can, but there is not much joined-up thinking. There should be something similar to the terrorism scheme Prevent to raise concerns about young people.Prof Bannister said the VRU was making a difference, but said the deep-rooted causes of violent crime will take a long time to resolve.
Supt Hemingway agrees and says families also have a vital role to play. "For parents, it's about being curious," she said.
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