GMP top cop says there is 'too much' knife crime but promises return of local policing

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

There is 'far too much knife crime' in Manchester Chief Constable Stephen Watson has claimed, in response to an M.E.N investigation suggesting it is a 'pandemic'.

Greater Manchester Police’s top officer appeared in the BBC Radio Manchester Hotseat to take questions from the public and was asked whether the region he covers is truly in a knife crime pandemic.

Mr Waston told radio host Mike Sweeney that the problem had reduced in recent months, but there was still “far too much knife crime”. “Well I wouldn’t use the word pandemic because it is an emotive phrase that perhaps causes more fear than is entirely justified,” he said. READ MORE: Five men found NOT guilty of conspiracy to murder after gang war exploded in horror attack “I wouldn’t in any way want to diminish the seriousness of the problem.

We have far too much knife crime across Greater Manchester and it is the case that knife crime fell in the last month, it was about 3.8 per cent reduction which is about 168 fewer offences. “In truth we have too much, it is at a high level, it is not disproportionately a high level for a place of our size.