Top judge demands tougher sentences for knife crime

A senior judge yesterday called for tougher punishments to combat the knife crime epidemic.

Sir Igor Judge's intervention came as the Home Secretary prepared to announce a major offensive against knife and gun crime linked to gangs later today.

Sir Igor, the country's second most senior judge, said that when a person was carrying a knife, "it takes but a moment of irritability, drunkenness, anger, perceived insult or something utterly trivial like a look, for the weapon to be produced  -  then we have mayhem."

This often resulted in the most serious offences being committed, including murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, wounding and assault.

Sir Igor warned: "Offences of this kind, carrying an offensive weapon or knife, have recently escalated.

"They are reaching epidemic-proportions.

"Every knife or weapon carried in the street represents a public danger and therefore, in the public's interest, this crime must be confronted and stopped.'"

Courts have been criticised for handing down soft punishments to those caught carrying a knife, despite a spate of lethal stabbings in recent months.

On Saturday, the Daily Mail revealed how the overwhelming majority of youths convicted of carrying a knife in public walk free from court.

Home Office figures show that 1,226 suspects under the age of 18 were found guilty of carrying a potentially deadly blade in 2006.

But, despite promises of tough sentencing, only 72 were put behind bars for an average sentence of 3.4 months.

Sir Igor, sitting with two fellow judges, said: "Even if the offender does no more than carry the weapon, even when the weapon is not used to threaten or cause fear, when considering the seriousness of the offence courts should bear in mind the harm which the weapon might forseeably have caused.

"So, the message is stark. This is a serious offence and it should be treated with the seriousness it deserves."

Haul: Weapons stacked up to be melted down after a recent knife amnesty

He made the comments when rejecting pleas by three knifewielding yobs to have their sentences reduced.

In a major speech today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce extra cash for police to carry out intensive work to disrupt gangs and seize weapons.

Attending an event at Aston Villa football club, Miss Smith is expected to declare pilot Tackling Gangs projects in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool a success.