Prime Minister quizzed over knife crime in Derby City Centre

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the government is taking action on knife crime after he was quizzed about the situation in Derby.

The Labour leader responded to a question posed by Derby South MP Baggy Shanker during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, following high-profile incidents that have rocked the city.

In May, Gurvinder Johal was fatally stabbed at Lloyds Bank in St Peter’s Street. In June, Dale Martin, also known as DJ, died in hospital after being stabbed in Stenson Road, Littleover.

Earlier this year, it was reported that there had been five stabbings in Derby in 12 days.

In the House of Commons, Mr Shanker asked what the Government was doing to tackle knife crime and ensure the city centre was safe for residents, visitors, and workers.

He said: “Derby is a city on the up. But unfortunately, over the last year, we have been devastated by knife crime.

“At my regular city centre safety summit, the message is clear to turn the page. We need action, not words.

“Can the Prime Minister update my constituents on what action this Government is taking to make sure all our residents, our visitors and our workers can enjoy our city centre safely?”

The Prime Minister said in response that the Government had launched “Ronan’s Law” – in honour of Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 in a case of mistaken identity near his home in Wolverhampton, aged 16. The law aims to strengthen controls on online sales of knives.

Sir Keir Starmer responded to Mr Shanker by saying: “As he will have heard at our (Labour party) conference we had Pooja Kanda there who I’ve met a number times. Her son Ronan was fatally stabbed.

“I’m proud we have delivered Ronan’s Law to tackle the sale of ninja swords. We’ve also banned zombie knives and strengthened controls for online knife sales. I pay tribute to his work setting up the city centre summit.”

This is not the first time this year that crime in Derby has reached the highest level in British politics.

In the summer, Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield wrote to the then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, pleading for more police officers to patrol the city.

Her letter said: “We are left with a fragmented frontline, stretched thin between a reduced police presence, fewer PCSOs, and underpowered council officers—at a time when the visibility and confidence of local enforcement teams has never been more critical.

“Please help us to protect our people and our reputation by investing in more officers and PCSOs dedicated to Derby.”

The Government pledged support to Councillor Peatfield and Derbyshire Police. A Home Office spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in August: “Derbyshire Police will receive up to £261.5m funding in the current financial year, an increase of 6.6% on 2024/25.

“We will continue working with Councillor Peatfield and Chief Constable Swann to ensure they have the resources they need to restore visible neighbourhood policing to our communities, and tackle the crimes that make people feel unsafe.”