What actions has Yvette Cooper taken as Home Secretary to tackle knife crime in the UK?

Yvette Cooper became Home Secretary following Labour's general election victory in July 2024, and tackling knife crime has been one of her stated priorities given the persistent and serious nature of the problem across England and Wales. One of her most prominent early moves was announcing plans to ban zombie-style knives and machetes, building on legislation that had already been progressing through Parliament. The government moved to tighten definitions and close loopholes that had allowed certain large bladed weapons to remain legal, with bans coming into effect in the latter part of 2024. Cooper framed this as part of a broader effort to reduce the availability of dangerous weapons that have no legitimate everyday purpose. Cooper has also pushed for stronger action around online sales of knives, recognising that many weapons are purchased through internet retailers with insufficient age verification or safeguarding measures. She has engaged with retailers and platforms about their responsibilities and indicated that the government would look at regulatory measures to make it harder for young people to acquire knives online. This sits alongside wider conversations about how social media platforms contribute to knife crime culture, particularly through content that glamorises gang activity and violence, and Cooper has been vocal about expecting platforms to take greater responsibility for the material they host. On the policing and enforcement side, Cooper has emphasised the importance of neighbourhood policing and rebuilding community trust as a long-term strategy for reducing violence. She has spoken about the need for more visible policing in communities affected by knife crime and has linked this to the government's broader commitment to recruiting additional police officers. She has also supported the use of violence reduction units, which bring together police, local authorities, health services and community organisations to address the root causes of violence rather than simply responding to incidents after they occur. These units, which were piloted under previous governments, have shown some evidence of effectiveness and Cooper has indicated support for expanding and sustaining them. Cooper has also engaged with the criminal justice response, supporting efforts to ensure that those who carry and use knives face meaningful consequences. There have been discussions within government about sentencing and whether the courts are treating knife offences with sufficient seriousness, particularly repeat offenders. She has also spoken about the importance of early intervention, working with schools, youth services and community organisations to steer young people away from knife carrying before they become entrenched in violent behaviour. This reflects a public health approach to knife crime that has gained traction in policy circles, treating violence as a preventable problem with social determinants rather than purely a law enforcement matter. It is worth noting that knife crime in the UK has been a deeply entrenched problem for many years, and critics have argued that successive governments have failed to make sustained progress. Cooper has faced pressure from opposition politicians and campaigners who argue that more urgent and radical action is needed, while others have cautioned against purely punitive approaches that do not address underlying issues such as poverty, lack of opportunity and the breakdown of community structures. The full impact of the measures Cooper has introduced or supported will take time to assess, and the challenge of reducing knife crime remains significant given its complex social roots.