Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard has welcomed new government plans that will require police to refer every child found in possession of a knife to specialist youth services, saying the move strengthens prevention work already under way in Luton and across the county.
Under proposals expected to be introduced by Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy, every child caught carrying a knife will be referred to Youth Justice Services. These locally led teams, spanning health, education and community organisations, will be required to put in place targeted support plans aimed at tackling the root causes of offending, including exploitation by criminal gangs and childhood trauma.
The plans could include mentoring to help young people remain in education, social skills training to improve employability and other tailored interventions. The support will be mandatory, with no child able to opt out.
Mr Tizard said the approach strikes the right balance between accountability and safeguarding. “Every child should be supported as well as held to account if they carry a knife with the intent of using it to cause harm. This activity is illegal and must be addressed as such. However, we need to ensure that enforcement alone is not sufficient to protect society, nor to support that child to change course.
“We have a duty to prevent harm and protect children — and we are talking about children. We must prevent them from falling into a life of crime and save them from criminal exploitation.”
He pointed to the work already taking place locally through the Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership, which sits within his office and works with partners to intervene at critical points in a young person’s life.
In Luton, the Youth Partnership Service Triage and Diversion programme, supported by the partnership, has received 338 referrals since April 2025, including 218 from Bedfordshire Police. So far this year, 80 children and young people have been successfully diverted away from entering the youth justice system.
Mr Tizard said the national announcement would help Bedfordshire “go further, faster” in building on that work. “The government has set the expectation, and I call on our Bedfordshire partners — the police, local authorities, schools, the NHS and community groups — to step up. Let’s embrace and implement the government’s programme with commitment and enthusiasm. We owe this to the children of our county and to the wider community.
“By providing proactive, holistic support to young people, families and communities, Bedfordshire’s VEPP, which is part of my office, works to stop harm before it takes hold. This includes diverting those vulnerable to gangs or criminal activity towards safer paths and offering specialist guidance for those who may not know where to turn.”
Louisa Glynn, programme manager for the Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership, said local services are already working closely to identify vulnerability early. “In Bedfordshire, our partnership is working together every day to make sure children and young people get the support they need at the earliest possible point. Through strong collaboration between youth justice services, schools, the police, and community organisations, we are able to identify vulnerability sooner and divert young people away from the youth justice system wherever possible.
“Our local teams are already delivering impactful diversion and prevention work. The government’s announcement gives us the opportunity to build on what is already working well in Bedfordshire, helping more young people to stay safe and move towards positive futures.”
Mr Tizard said the new national policy would reinforce the county’s existing prevention strategy, with the shared aim of reducing knife crime and keeping young people in Luton and across Bedfordshire safe.
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