COLCHESTER’S MP has backed plans for new anti-knife crime legislation but wants the Government to do even more to teach youngsters about the dangers of blades.

New Asbo style measures called Knife Crime Prevention Orders have been put forward by Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

It is hoped the new orders could be handed to anyone aged 12 and over thought to be routinely carrying a knife.

They could then be subject to a curfew, restricting where they can go and even have their internet use limited in a bid to stop social media gang feuds escalating.

During an urgent question on the new orders in the House of Commons, Tory Will Quince urged the Government to ensure youngsters receive mandatory lessons on weapons in schools in a similar move to how first aid training will be compulsory from 2020.

He said: “I welcome this initiative which I think will make a difference but we must go further.

“The minister knows that I have campaigned since entering this house on both first aid education and weapons awareness educations on the national curriculum.

“We’re half way there with first aid entering the curriculum, what steps can the minister take to ensure weapons awareness appears on our national curriculum?”

Parliamentary under secretary of state for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability, Victoria Atkins said a cross-party group of MPs were working on getting the message of the dangers of knife crime out to young people.

She said: “I’m grateful to my honourable friend who has indeed campaigned so much not just on serious violence generally but particularly on county lines representing as he does, an important town in Essex.

“The work that the Government is conducting through the Serious Violence Task Force includes, for example, sending out lesson plans before the summer holidays last year because we listened to youth workers who said to us ‘please can we help teachers teach children before they go off on their summer holiday about the risks of carrying a knife.’

“The work we support through charities such as the St Giles Trust go a very long way to helping children but of course the Department for Education’s plan to introduce relationship education in schools will help because this is about ensuring children aren’t exploited and know what behaviour they should expect from their friends and older mentors.

“This is all part of a joined up package.”

In Essex there were 527 cautions or sentences handed out for knife related crimes in 2017/18.