THE chief of police has spoken out after a teenager was murdered in High Wycombe.

Jason Hogg, the chief constable of Thames Valley Police, has spoken out about knife crime following the death of a 17-year-old.

Cameron Bailey was stabbed in Easton Street on Sunday, May 7 and four people have been charged in relation to his death.

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Also in High Wycombe, a 15-year-old boy from South Tyneside, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a one-year community order after pleading guilty to stabbing another teen three times on October 29, 2022 in Terriers End.

The teen suffered from ‘life-changing injuries’ after the attack.

Mr Hogg said it was ‘not appropriate’ for police to comment on what court outcomes should be for knife crime but said prison is a ‘great’ deterrent for offenders.

“The issue for young people carrying knives is not just a police problem but society’s problem,” he said.

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“Sadly, those people who carry knives are more likely to be the victims of knife crime as well.

“I think it’s not appropriate for police to comment on court orders but putting people behind bars is a great way to deter offending. We hope when we arrest people with knives that prison is an option.”

This comes after Matthew Barber, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, saying he was ‘worried’ upon hearing the 15-year-old’s sentence adding that it did not ‘match the crime’.

He said: “Sentences like this really worry me. Yes, the offender was a child, but so was the victim. He pleaded guilty to the serious offence of wounding with intent. He stabbed someone three times.

“The police have done all they can in this case. They've identified, arrested and charged the offender. He has been prosecuted, but many will feel that justice has not been done.

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“In the last year or so, Thames Valley police have made great improvements in dealing with knife possession offences through Operation Deter, but sentences need to match the crime.”

Mr Hogg added that the force is working towards decreasing knife crime by launching ‘Operation Deter’ in Milton Keynes, which has also now been rolled out to Aylesbury, Slough, and Reading.

Under this initiative, individuals arrested over the age of 18 for a knife-related offence will, wherever possible, be charged and remanded immediately and put before the courts.  

If the individual is under 18, they will be visited by the Youth Offending Team and a plan is drawn up for intervention and rapid commencement of the Youth Justice Process.