Sajid Javid promises to back cops ‘with everything I’ve got’ in urgent attempt to curb knife crime

HOME Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday vowed to give police all the backing they needed to curb the knife crime epidemic.

He pledged that new stop-and-search powers given to seven of the worst-affected forces were just the start.

PA:Press Association

Senior officers fear his changes do not go far enough and want them extending countrywide. But Mr Javid told The Sun on Sunday: “Knife crime has shaken the country to its core.

“I’ve been clear that I’ll do everything in my power to help bring an end to the shocking acts of violence and senseless loss of life on our streets.

“This includes giving our brave police officers on the frontline the support they need.”

Stop-and-search was curtailed by PM Theresa May in 2014 when she was Home Secretary. But the surge in knife crime prompted Mr Javid to relax the controls in a breakthrough for our Beat the Blades campaign.

The extra powers will come in only in London, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, South Wales and Greater Manchester.

They will let police easily designate areas and times when they can carry out stop-and-search.

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A police source said Mr Javid wanted to go further but was told not to embarrass Mrs May.

Police Federation leader John Apter said the change was needed everywhere.

He added: “It can’t be a case of cherry-picking who gets this support.”