Portsmouth council backs call for tougher sentences to tackle knife crime
Portsmouth City Council has called for stronger sentences and more funding to tackle knife crime in the city.
In a recent full council meeting, a motion proposed by Reform UK councillors Matt Cordy and Chris Dike was unanimously approved by members.
In his maiden speech, Cllr Cordy said the city has seen a “troubling number” of violent incidents in recent months.
He pointed to Portsmouth’s higher than average crime rate when compared with Hampshire and the rest of the country, stating “the need for stronger measures is more urgent than ever”.
He said pushing for stronger sentences for those convicted of carrying and using knives unlawfully “making it clear that such behaviour will not be accepted we can deter potential offenders, ultimately creating a safer environment for our residents”.
He suggested writing to the Home Office, asking for tougher sentences and additional funding for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Constabulary.
“While the police are doing an incredible job with the resources at their disposal, we must ensure that our officers have the tools they need to effectively tackle this issue.”
He also called to support and expand community lead initiatives “to educate our young people about the danger of carrying knives”.
The council leader, Cllr Steve Pitt, welcomed the motion, warning that society can become “tolerant towards things that it clearly should not be tolerant of”.
He recalled his experience in the licence trade, stating he has seen the damage even a “broken glass can do” and stressing that it is “not about the weapon, it’s about the person, the intent and how far people are willing to go.”
Conservative member for Drayton and Farlington Spencer Gardner highlighted the work of Politely Rebellious Next Gen, who engage directly with young people and offer “positive life affirming pathways, probably saving lives by averting situations before they’ve had a chance to arise.”
Cllr Charlotte Gerada, Labour group leader, applauded the cross agency work undertaken by the council to address violent crime. She recalled an incident, condemned by councillors across the chamber, where a knife wielding man threatened a Muslim family outside a Mosque in Southsea.
In closing, Cllr Cordy welcomed the cross-party support, stressing that “robust community engagement” is the way forward.
“We all want a safer Portsmouth for our residents.”
Violent crime in Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s overall crime rate is far higher than the Hampshire average, recording around 103 to 129 crimes per 1,000 people compared with Hampshire’s 65 to 90 per 1,000, largely driven by high levels of violent and sexual offences.
According to Safer Portsmouth’s strategic assessment, which collates data from the police, there was a two per cent reduction in recorded crimes during 2024/25 compared to the previous year.
There have been reductions in most types of violent crime, with a one per cent reduction in violence overall.
The exceptions are a 20 per cent increase in sexual offences and a seven per cent increase in possession of a weapon.
In 2024/25 there were 826 knife enabled crimes, which is a four per cent reduction from 2023/24.