A NEW taskforce is needed to tackle the rise in violent crime across the city, MPs have said.

Peter Kyle, Caroline Lucas and Lloyd Russell-Moyle joined forces to call for more action in Brighton and Hove.

They say they are seeing a large number of constituents visiting them who have been affected by crime.

But the police have “simply been unable to cope”, they said.

In a letter addressed to the Home Secretary Sajid Javid, they say violent crime has risen by 108 per cent in the city since 2011.

They say that sexual offences and domestic violence is also on the up and urgent and decisive action is needed.

Their letter calls for a violent crime taskforce for the city to tackle the problems and the root causes.

In response, the Home Office said work is being done in Sussex to tackle serious violent crime.

A national taskforce has been set up and the Government launched the Serious Violence Strategy in April last year.

In their letter sent to the Home Office yesterday, the Labour and Green MPs said they have “very serious concern about the rising levels of violent crime in our city”.

Mr Kyle, Ms Lucas and Mr Russell-Moyle said: “We are aware that incidences of violent crime have been rising sharply across the country, which we believe has been driven by austerity, cuts to the police and other public services.”

They say there are 22 per cent fewer full-time police officers in Brighton and Hove than a decade ago.

In recent months the community has been shocked by serious violence such as the stabbing of Abdul Deghayes in Elm Grove in February, knife robberies and stabbings.

The MPs said there have been 5,739 incidents of violence recorded in Brighton and Hove so far this year.

Their letter states: “We are seeing more and more constituents coming to us for help where the police have simply been unable to cope.

“We are in close touch with the police force and we are assured that they are doing the best job they can in circumstances which are unprecedentedly difficult.

“But despite their professionalism, without the proper resources it simply isn’t enough.

“This is a national emergency which is playing out on the streets of our constituencies.

“Nothing can be more serious than the security of our constituents and the safety of our streets and communities.

“We are urging you to set up a taskforce on violent crime for Brighton and Hove.”

In reply, the Home Office said: “This Government is taking decisive action to tackle violent crime through our Serious Violence Strategy and a new £200 million youth endowment fund will go to projects supporting young people at risk of being drawn into violence.

“We are giving police the resources they need to do their vital work and Sussex Police funding will increase by £22 million this year, including council tax.”