Could The Military Be Deployed In Response To Knife Crime?

The Prime Minister has not ruled out that members of the military could be deployed to combat knife crime in the UK.

Theresa May was speaking in the House of Commons after the Defence Secretary was questioned over whether the Ministry of Defence (MOD) had received any requests for assistance.

Gavin Williamson confirmed that the MOD had not received a request for help, but stated that they "always stands ready to help any government department" and that they will "always be ready to respond".

On Wednesday, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn asked the Prime Minister:

"If there are sufficent police numbers, can the Prime Minister please explain why yesterday the Defence Secretary was offering to send in the military to assist with knife crime?"

Mrs May responded by saying: "As the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has recognised that the causes of knife crime are complex, she said 'police alone won't sort this issue out, we can't arrest our way of of this problem'.

"I agree and that's why we need to tackle it across a number of fronts."