Police address concerns regarding knife crime and murders in Milton Keynes this year

Thames Valley Police have addressed their concerns regarding knife crime in Reading and Milton Keynes.

Since the start of 2021, Thames Valley Police have launched two murder investigations in Milton Keynes and a further three in Reading.

Thames Valley Police have revealed in each separate incident, the offenders and victims have been known to each other.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter, head of crime for Thames Valley Police, said: “Although none of these offences are linked in any way with no threat to the wider public, they all demonstrate to us the simple fact that knives ruin lives.

“If people carry knives as weapons, the consequence is that serious injury and sometimes death can be the tragic result. That is why our officers are continuing to do everything in their power to robustly combat this issue. We will not tolerate these sort of crimes, which put so many people at risk.

“We will continue to work with our partners for early intervention and prevention and we will continue to use powers such as stop and search, as well as implementing Section 60 orders whenever we need to."

Thames Valley Police has a broad range of visible tactics used to tackle serious violence and knife crime, such us the use of stop and search, Section 60s, intelligence-led patrols, executing warrants, knife arches, knife wands, knife bins, test purchase operations and CCTV. However, there are also many security measures that members of the public cannot see.

The Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit offers a mentoring scheme that supports young people who are at risk of exclusion from education and, or are currently within the criminal justice system. The government has organised significant extra funds to boost these prevention programmes.

Chief Superintendent Hunter added: “Our absolute priority is always to keep the public safe and I want people to feel reassured that the Thames Valley remains a safe place.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our officers and staff who have worked so hard this year investigating these five incidents. In each one, people have been arrested and charged. The professionalism and hard work of everyone involved has been outstanding.”

If you are worried that someone you know is using violence or is carrying a knife, please report it. We can then take the necessary steps to safeguard them and identify those responsible.

To make a report of serious violence, please call Thames Valley Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or make a report online.