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Birmingham violence warning came day before stabbings | Birmingham violence warning came day before stabbings |
(35 minutes later) | |
Stabbings a mile from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham came less than 24 hours after a warning about rising violence in the city. | Stabbings a mile from the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham came less than 24 hours after a warning about rising violence in the city. |
Speaking from the venue on Monday a local newspaper editor told Newsnight "people are literally dying on the streets... 300 yards from [here]". | Speaking from the venue on Monday a local newspaper editor told Newsnight "people are literally dying on the streets... 300 yards from [here]". |
On Tuesday three men were stabbed near a McDonald's in the city centre. | On Tuesday three men were stabbed near a McDonald's in the city centre. |
West Midlands Police dealt with more than 2,000 knife crime incidents in the first six months of 2018. | West Midlands Police dealt with more than 2,000 knife crime incidents in the first six months of 2018. |
Nine of those were fatal. | Nine of those were fatal. |
There were 23 fatal knife attacks in the region between May 2017 and May 2018. | There were 23 fatal knife attacks in the region between May 2017 and May 2018. |
Birmingham Mail editor Marc Reeves spoke to BBC Newsnight earlier in the week from the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, which is hosting the conference. | Birmingham Mail editor Marc Reeves spoke to BBC Newsnight earlier in the week from the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, which is hosting the conference. |
"Literally 300 yards from where we are sitting, the story of knife crime is played out on the streets of Birmingham," he said. | "Literally 300 yards from where we are sitting, the story of knife crime is played out on the streets of Birmingham," he said. |
"People are dying on the streets of Birmingham - they want to see that on the agenda for a change." | "People are dying on the streets of Birmingham - they want to see that on the agenda for a change." |
The attacks on Tuesday happened at about 17:45 BST in the High Street, about 300m from the Bullring. | The attacks on Tuesday happened at about 17:45 BST in the High Street, about 300m from the Bullring. |
Witnesses said a group of about 100 teenagers had been in the area at the time and one man was left "seriously injured". | Witnesses said a group of about 100 teenagers had been in the area at the time and one man was left "seriously injured". |
The others were in a "better condition". | The others were in a "better condition". |
Analysis | |
By Daniel Wainwright, BBC Shared Data Unit | |
In 2017-18 there were 2,850 knife-related offences in the West Midlands force area. That's up 19% in a year. But that increase is only slightly above the England and Wales average of a 16% rise. | |
The past year was the worst year for knife crimes in the West Midlands since 2010-11, when there were 3,018 offences. | |
When weighted by population, the latest figures work out at one knife crime for every 1,000 people in the West Midlands force area. | |
This is the third highest rate among the 43 forces in England and Wales. | |
In a speech on Tuesday, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a £200m youth endowment fund to focus on violent crime hotspots. | |
The BBC has asked the Home Office if and how the funding will be used in Birmingham. | The BBC has asked the Home Office if and how the funding will be used in Birmingham. |
Police Federation Chairman John Apter said the proposal was "nothing new". | Police Federation Chairman John Apter said the proposal was "nothing new". |
"There are not enough police officers to cover the demand we already have; many of my members are at or beyond breaking point and the public are increasingly being provided with a substandard service," he said. | |
More than 2,000 police officers' jobs have been cut from the West Midlands force since 2010, according to the West Midlands police and crime commissioner. | |
The force's funding has also been cut by 24% - £145m - making it the second hardest hit force in the country, the National Audit Office found last month. | The force's funding has also been cut by 24% - £145m - making it the second hardest hit force in the country, the National Audit Office found last month. |