I fully support Our Merseyside’s new #BladeFree campaign and wider efforts by the police, schools and local communities in St Helens to tackle knife crime and keep our young people safe.

Sadly, many in our region know only too well the untold levels of pain, distress and suffering the scourge of knife crime can inflict upon the friends and families of those drawn into it. By providing support and new opportunities through local activities, #BladeFree aims to throw vulnerable young people a real lifeline and help them steer well clear of this horrific violence.

I commend local campaigners whose hard work made this excellent initiative a reality. Together, we can build a #BladeFree society where the devastation of knife crime is eradicated once and for all.