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BLADE BLOCK
PRITI Patel beefed up stop-and-search laws yesterday to give cops more power to tackle knife crime.
The Home Secretary lifted restrictions on all 43 forces and gave an extra 8,000 officers authority to order on-the-spot frisking.
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She said her action, just a fortnight into the job, shows her determination to halt street violence “in its tracks”.
It is the first measure in a wave to be unveiled this week by Boris Johnson.
The PM, who has promised 20,000 more cops, will announce a prison-building programme with 10,000 new cells.
He will meet police chiefs, judges and prison bosses tomorrow to discuss strengthening the criminal justice system so punishment fits the crime, and lags learn job skills so they do not return to crime on release.
Ms Patel made the start last night by binning stop-and-search restrictions imposed in 2014 in a victory for our Beat the Blades campaign.
'KNIFE CRIME EPIDEMIC'
In addition to the most senior officers, she said, inspectors and superintendents will get authority to authorise stop-and-searches.
Once an area is designated, the powers will be in force for 24 hours and can be extended to 48. The degree of certainty required will be lowered to a reasonable belief that an incident “may” occur, rather than “will” occur.
The Sun On Sunday Says
BRITAIN’S hard-pressed cops need all the help they can get in their fight against the rising tide of violent crime.
So Priti Patel’s announcement today that she is extending their emergency stop and search powers is welcomed.
The new Home Secretary says officers will now be able to use these powers more widely if they fear an outbreak of knife crime on their patch.
Hand-wringing liberals may moan, but such tough measures have proved effective against drug-fuelled gang wars that blight our cities. Last year there were 7,000 arrests for weapons as a result of such searches — potentially saving many lives.
Her uncompromising backing for the bobby on the beat is also to be applauded.
Last week’s sickening machete attack on an officer in East London is the latest grim reminder of the risks they take.
Only if officers feel they have support from the top will they feel confident to tackle thugs bringing havoc to our streets.
The public is sick and tired of those who put the so-called rights of offenders above the safety of their victims.
As Ms Patel says, it’s the criminals, not citizens, who should be running scared.
She said: “We are experiencing a knife crime epidemic. I’m determined to put a stop to it. Police chiefs are clear — stop-and-search is a vital tool in combating the scourge of serious violence.”
Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “The authority to stop and search is a necessary power that allows police to tackle violence and prevent people from becoming victims of crime.”
Ms Patel will soon publish guidance on measures to curb the sale and delivery of blades. Courts will get powers to impose Knife Crime Prevention Orders on anyone aged 12 and over.
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Sajid Javid gives police new stop-and-search powers in bid to curb knife crime
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