North East knife-crime task force relaunched
Written by Amelia Anderson on 26th September 2025
Knife crime on the rise has been attributed to unemployment, poor education and drug abuse.
North East police and community leaders have repeated their commitment to the fight against knife crime in the region, with the relaunch of a task force this week.
Politicians, police, community and charity leaders and all three police and crime commissioners from Durham, Northumbria and Cleveland gathered to reintroduce the Northeast Knife Crime Task Force and discuss what they can do to stop further tragedies.
The relaunch comes after Cleveland was ranked second-highest in the country, after London, for serious knife crimes (violent crime involving knives or bladed objects) in 2024.
That unwelcome accolade for the area has been attributed to high unemployment, low education levels, and drug abuse.
The taskforce was originally created in 2023, following a surge in deaths due to knife crime – including the death of Holly Newton, a teenager stabbed by her ex-boyfriend, Logan MacPhail – and the hope is that collaboration, co-ordinated action and regular meetings will reignite the movement.
The agency has introduced three key aims, including:
- introducing knife crime education in schools;
- lobbying for changes in legislation and;
- prompting the ‘mapping’ of life-saving ‘bleeding kits’ (which is equipment that reduces blood loss until a medical professional arrives).
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen emphasised that “the key message is – do not carry a knife. We want knives off the streets – get rid of them so we can keep our communities safe”.
The organisation has gained support from grieving families, PM Keir Starmer and former home secretary Yvette Cooper, who called it a “powerful coalition of people”.
