Knife crime 'a problem in Derby', MP says

Concerns have been raised by residents about safety in Derby city centre

Knife crime is a problem in Derby, one of the city's MPs has said, as he outlined his determination to deal with the issue.

Baggy Shanker, the former leader of Derby City Council who now represents Derby South for Labour, raised the issue with Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

It comes after a number of high-profile incidents in the city, including the fatal stabbing of a man in a bank.

Shanker told BBC Radio Derby he feels safe in the area, but mentioned the problem in Parliament after constituents raised concerns.

'No quick fix'

Shanker said he had organised a "city centre safety summit" involving the city council and police, but said he wanted to raise the issue nationally in the Commons "to make sure the prime minister's aware of it" and so it can inform government policies.

"I love my city, and when I speak to people in Derby - whether it's in the city centre, whether it's in visits I'm making to business, whether it's on the doorstep - people are telling me they don't feel safe in [the] city centre," he said.

"Unfortunately recently we've had a number of knife crime incidents, and we've got to do something about it."

In his reply to the question, Sir Keir pointed to legislation such as Ronan's Law - which banned the manufacture, possession, sale and supply of ninja swords - as part of the government's drive to tackle the problem.

Shanker said the prime minister "raised some important points" on national knife crime campaigns that "will make a real difference", but added he was keen to emphasise the need for extra local efforts.

"It's a number of measures, nationally and locally, that need to be delivered," he said.

"There's no quick fix to this... it's a serious issue, it needs serious action, and that's what I'm determined to deliver."