Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, has welcomed the news the Conservative Government will be launching the pilot of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) across Thames Valley Police in April 2023.
SVROs give the police new stop and search powers to target convicted knife and offensive weapons offenders and Thames Valley, which includes Milton Keynes, is one of four trial areas selected by the Government.
The orders are intended to deter offenders from carrying weapons as there is a greater likelihood of being caught and brought to justice; and provide them with a credible basis for distancing themselves from weapon-carrying and other criminal behaviour.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote to local MP Ben Everitt to confirm the two year pilot is set to begin in April.
Ben Everitt MP said: "Tackling knife crime in Milton Keynes is my priority. We launched Op Deter last year to make sure we arrest, detain and prosecute people who carry a knife.
"Now we're giving even more powers to our local police force to stop and search people who are convicted knife and offensive weapon offenders.
"This is on top of the extra 582 police officers we've hired across Thames Valley Police since 2019."
