I emailed Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to ask about the evidence linking the decline in stop and search checks with a rise in knife crime:

"I was interested to read reports in the Daily Mail and the Times of your comments that the drop in stop-and-search checks had led to more knife crime.

I would be grateful if you could send me the relevant evidence that supports this claim. I'm interested in both the increase in knife attacks, and how that sits with long-term trends; and in whether there's evidence that the fall in stop and search checks has caused any rise as opposed to the two things happening at the same time.

Could you also send me any evidence you have that shows more young people are carrying knives?"