Last month Rebecca joined the Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst and other South Essex MPs to meet Julie Taylor, a local lady who lost her nephew in a knife attack.

Julie does a great deal to raise local and national awareness or knife crime and has given out over 200 specialist blood bag first aid kits to bars and clubs in nightspots around Essex.

Knife crime has no place on our streets and Rebecca is pleased that the Government have just finished consulting on plans to make it illegal to posess zombie knives and other knives designed to intimidate with no practical legal purpose. The Government is also looking to increase the maximum penalty for the importation, manufacture, sale and supply of prohibited offensive weapons.

It is important that the police have the right powers to tackle the problem of knife crime on our streets and Mrs Harris will continue to support our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Essex Police as they work to tackle knife crime and other forms of violent crime in our communities.