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Boris puts boot into soft judges
Justin Davenport5 Mar 2009
Boris Johnson has scathingly attacked the criminal justice system, saying it is failing in the fight against knife crime.
The Mayor, who is chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, criticised judges in particular for failing to hand tougher sentences to people caught with knives.
In a speech to the London Crimestoppers annual dinner last night he said: I am worried that the criminal justice system is not fit for purpose and is too often letting us down. I am worried that, where someone is convicted of a knife crime, on too few occasions do we get the sentence we need.
Mr Johnson also said the police initiative Operation Blunt Two, begun last year to reduce the number of teenage killings, had taken more than 4,000 knives off the streets. He said the operation involving the deployment of portable knife arches and stop and searches also resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.
But the Mayor said while police were making arrests, the courts were failing to take tough action against those caught carrying knives. His comments came after it emerged that the knife killer of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox had been sentenced to four years for GBH but was freed early on parole. Karl Bishop served 18 months before his release and his licence period ended weeks before he killed the actor in Sidcup in May last year.
Mr Knox, 18, was one of 28 teenagers killed in London last year, including 22 who were stabbed to death. Conservative leader David Cameron has pledged that his party will adopt a policy under which any offender caught on the streets carrying a knife would face jail. Everyone carrying a blade without a reasonable excuse would be prosecuted and those convicted would be expected to get a custodial sentence.
The Sentencing Guidelines Council issued rules to magistrates last year saying they should fine for first convictions for carrying a blade in public even though the maximum punishment is four years in jail.
Detectives say gangs and teenagers are increasingly using knives to settle scores.
Statistics reveal that fewer than one in five people convicted of carrying a knife are sent to prison. The most recent figures show that not one knife offender sentenced for carrying a blade in 2007 received the maximum jail term.
Only 17 per cent of people convicted of possession of knives were sent to prison and, of those who were, the majority received sentences of three months or less. The 2007 statistics showed that 6,121 people were convicted of carrying a blade 160 fewer than the previous year but only 1,060 of them were jailed, fewer than one in five.
Reader views (36)
Dont blame the Judges or the Police, until we have an effective deterrent by amending the laws of this country you have nothing to halt the spread of Violence and killings.
- Carl Barron, Dorset, 09/03/2009 13:02
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the laws are manipulated by criminals and terrorists and of course by human rights orgs which are more concerned about the rights of these rogues instead of that of the majority who are gradually losing their freedom. what good are these orgs and this big word "democracy" which are, in effect, encouraging terrorism and crime in the country?
- Beljamine, uk, 08/03/2009 16:00
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There must be dozens of obsolete army camps around the country that would need just a little extra work to make them into medium-security prisons, preferably using hard labour from available prisoners.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 06/03/2009 10:00
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Does Boris think that people who use knives think for one second about the consequences of doing so?
Some guy just got 20 years for knifing somebody to death, do people really think he thought about what prison sentence he'd get?
- Prj45, London, 06/03/2009 06:50
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Well said Boris but the problem is that while its right that you say the Judges should hand out tougher sentences, the government is telling the judges not to jail criminals because our prisons are full.
- Mr S.Port, London, 05/03/2009 21:43
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The best thing to do with these bleeding heart wet liberals is put them into immediate response police cars who have to turn up and deal with these people.
You can just imagine the response when our liberal friend walks into a pub brawl suggesting a " time out guys" or maybe "lets all have a group hug"
oh would I love to be a fly on the wall.
- Steve M, London, 05/03/2009 17:23
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Its high time that the government and judges woke up to these facts and to make jail the only punishment.
- Bc, London, 05/03/2009 17:02
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Well said Boris - This is exactly the kind of comment we as Londonders want to hear from our Mayor and politicians.
After 10 years of utter failure by this Nu-Labour Government to protect innocent people and keep criminals off the street it is about time we had a Government who introduced much tougher sentences.
I think "Scots Lass's" idea of a Jury deciding on the sentence (with a Judge's direction) is an excellent idea which also removes any political interference.
We also need far tougher mandatory sentences for knife and gun crime :-
Unlawful possession of a knife or bladed article - 10yrs minimum
Unlawful possession of a firearm - 20yrs minimum.
These sentences would be no questions asked, no ifs, no buts, no mitigation, no "i'm a poor kid and had a deprived childhood". Then we might see the streets become safer.
- Deltahotel, London,UK, 05/03/2009 16:52
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The trouble with the judges is the fact that too many of them consist of ex public school boys and know little or nothing about real life on our city streets and the people who make the laws are unelected so have nothing to fear. The House of "Lords" is stuffed full of them.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 05/03/2009 16:42
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The justice system in this country is a pathetic joke.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 05/03/2009 16:31
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Well, we heard that anyone carrying a knife would be sentancxed to 5 years, the maker of the comment knowing full well that it would never happen. Why because his chancellor scrapped plans to build new prisons.
When discovered that there was no space, the guidelines were issued and judges are bound to follow those guidelines.
Better that discipline and painful consequences for breach be instilled from an early age, and if you kill by knife or whatever, you suffer the same fate and save the taxpayers having to keep you for 15+ years and then release you to kill again, and a repeat cost of trial etc.
Better discipline is not a cure all, but at least it will make some be more mindful............
- Hugh, Middx, 05/03/2009 16:20
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The usual cry is that jails are overcrowded but new ones can be built to keep up with the "demand" or bring in to use some prison ships which were used during the IRA troubles. There were no murders on such a scale when we had the ultimate deterrent,the death penalty. Where there is a will, there is always a way.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 05/03/2009 15:45
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Isn't there some way that, having reached a 'guilty' verdict, the jury could also decide the sentence? Given the minimum and the maximum term and asked to vote on what they consider suitable? This would mean that the ordinary members of the public who make up the jury would also have a say in the punishment - instead of some judge in an ivory tower with no idea of the problems facing people every day.
I think people bright enough to serve on a jury would be able to decide whether leniency should be shown or not.
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 05/03/2009 15:36
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Grass routes initiatives what does that mean(tony)more jobs for the boys and the tax payer foots the bill again? id rather my money went to pay for there execution.
- Kev, London-UK, 05/03/2009 15:21
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Boris is right you only have to watch a few of the TV shows where police catch people in stolen cars,on drugs,crashing stolen cars etc then at the end you here they were let of with a warning. A law abiding car driver can expect a £95.00 (or £60.00) fine for going a few miles over a speed limit but then its easy to target a motorist. Start setting an example by getting rid of a few of these soft judges and also start locking up some crooked MPs etc.
- Mike, London England, 05/03/2009 14:54
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our prisons are full because prison is not a deterrent. It is not a deterrent because the sentences handed out are pitifully short. Why is not blatantly obvious that if we suddenly started giving out minimum 5 year fixed stretches for serious assault/burglarly with intent/carrying a knife etc, as a MINIMUM tariff, the sheer fear of being caught would fall dramatically. By constantly setting lower and lower tariffs-the prisons fill up, and they fill up because the short sentance is not stopping the crimes!
- Gary, amersham, 05/03/2009 14:15
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well this country has gone to the dogs since the 80,s its lawless here now and after closing all the youth clubs down and activitys for young people..what do they do apart from hang around on street corners...the only place you see police now days is in areas like kensington and chelsea to look after the rich....this country needs a shake up or a revolt
- Ricky, london england, 05/03/2009 14:12
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Judges just follow the Law, made by Parliamentarians. So if you want stiffer punishment then change the Law and build more prisons, with a tougher regime, not holiday camps or a rest home. Responsility and Punishment are the two words missing from the lexicon of criminals.
- Dhanraj, basildon, 05/03/2009 14:11
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When I was young I carried a pen knife every one I knew carried a pen knife some with quite sizable blades. There were no mass stabbings.
Stabbings are a sympton of the quality of people living in our society which is pretty scummy and getting scummier every year.
- Steve Byrne, christchurch UK, 05/03/2009 14:11
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Boris is right but should point the finger more at the government as the sentences are largely dictated by politicians and gaols are not being built.
To Tony above. I'm sick of grass roots initiatives. They don't work any more than gaol. At least if the criminals are in gaol they are doing any damage to the rest of us.
- Bruce, London, 05/03/2009 13:53
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True, it does often go back to the government - of which Boris has never been a member incidentally, he's always been opposition - but it's also true that too many judges are passing much more lenient sentences than they need to. It's time for those convicted of violence and weapons-related charges to have the book thrown at them. And Tony, I am also tired of macho TALK, which we have had too much of under Labour. Talk accomplishes nothing, you need actions. And I'm all for getting kids out of that sort of lifestyle before it's too late, as is Boris, but no matter what you do, crime will still hold an appeal for many young men. It's not JUST about drugs and neglect, there is the easy money and the outlaw appeal. Social projects can't remove those things so there must also be a hard stick alongside the carrot. Knowing that if you carry a knife and you're caught, you ARE going inside will be a strong deterrent.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, 05/03/2009 13:29
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the only way to rid this country of this appalling disease is by handing down unconditional prison sentences.
if you get caught carrying a kinfe you get 10 years in prison, no if, buts or maybes
- Simon Bucknell, emfield, 05/03/2009 13:17
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Boris - I knew I was right to vote for you and ask my friends to do the same. This is exactly what is needed. I only hope you have the power to change such an ingrained institution.
- Mikki, London, 05/03/2009 12:54
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A 17% conviction rate with sentences of 3 months or less is indeed pathetic, mandatory sentencing is badly needed. Shame on the judges and thumbs up to Boris
- Jeremy, Chelmsford, Essex, 05/03/2009 12:34
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Kicking the judiciary distracts from the lack of money being put in to grass roots initiatives to help London youth. It shows the usual lack of imagination we're coming to expect from so many politicians. I don't care if I'm accused of being a 'liberal' - I'm fed up with all the macho talk on crime. High prison rates have solved nothing in the United States - why is it going to solve urban crime here? We need an outbreak of honesty on the crime discussion - the experts know that jail is not a solution.
- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK, 05/03/2009 12:27
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Judges are an easy target but it is important to remember that the sentences they hand down are often restricted due to laws passed by the very politicians who criticise them!
In 2006 Judge John Griffith William, Cardiff Crown Court, sentenced Craig Sweeney to be jailed for life, but he would be eligible for parole after five years and 108 days. Home Secretary John Reid criticised the judge for being "unduly lenient".
In fact, the judge was applying the 2003 Criminal Justice Act as interpreted by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, i.e the very law passed by the same Labour Government that John Reid belonged to!
Perhaps politicians should look at their own role before blaming others?
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 05/03/2009 12:27
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We - the people - are getting tired and angry of seeing smirking thugs given soft sentences or endless second chances that allow them to harm or kill people we care about.
- Danny, London, 05/03/2009 12:18
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Finally we have a politician who speaks for us.
- St, LondON, 05/03/2009 12:12
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Almost a united front, from the fist seven comments. Thomas, build more gaols. We need these people out of harm's way.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 05/03/2009 12:09
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Go Boris!
- Serox, London, 05/03/2009 11:15
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About time. Go Boris Go!
- Linda, LONDON ENGLAND, 05/03/2009 11:14
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Finally someone with a brain. It's pretty obvious if you lock people up for a long time if they carry a knife it will discourage carrying.
- Mark, London, 05/03/2009 10:55
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Some Judge's are too lenient. The blame does not lay solely with the judiciary they are the end result. They are faced with the lack of prison space to accommodate criminals. The cause goes back to the Government, you need to educate and nurture and not neglect the deprived children in this country.
- Kaz, London, 05/03/2009 10:19
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I wondered when one of our politicians was going to speak up against judges. About time too. It seems that so many of the sentences handed out are just so pathetic that not only do they insult the families of victims but they seem to be telling the "criminal classes" that they can carry on.
- Dep, London, 05/03/2009 09:59
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Where will Boris jail all these thugs? Our system is already 120% full.
- Thomas, London, 05/03/2009 09:50
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Well said Boris.
If judges showed as much common sense we wouldn't be in this state.
If only !!
- Ann Louisa, Southampton, 05/03/2009 09:46
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