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Just one offender gets maximum sentence for carrying knife
Ben Bailey28.05.09
Only one person was given the maximum sentence for carrying a knife last year, figures revealed today.
Judges can imprison anyone caught carrying a knife in public can be jailed for up to four years.
But in the year to September only one person out of 3,700 caught with a knife was given the maximum term.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who uncovered the figures in parliamentary answers, said ministers were sending out the wrong messages.
He said: "It's demoralising for the victims of knife crime if there is an expectation of a tough sentence for offenders which doesn't materialise in reality.
"We have to create a real disincentive for people who carry knives, and the fact that the supposed tough sentences just aren't happening sends out all the wrong messages."
The figures revealed that of the 3,713 people sentenced for custody for carrying a knife in England and Wales more than half were jailed for three months or less.
And only one in six received a sentence of more than six months.
The maximum term was doubled to four years in February 2007, but has barely been used despite a string of high profile stabbings and public fears over the dangers of knives.
No-one was jailed for the maximum term in 2007.
Justice minister David Hanson said more knife carriers were being jailed and fewer were being given cautions.
He said: "The Government strongly believes that sentencing in individual cases is rightly a matter for the courts - this is a cornerstone of our justice system.
"Our figures show more people are going to jail for carrying knives and that they are getting longer sentences."
A recent poll found a majority of the public back mandatory sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife.
Pollsters found 62% of those questioned said knife offenders should automatically be jailed.
A similar proportion, 59%, said current sentences were not strong enough to deter knife-wielding thugs.
Reader views (5)
New Labour: Criminalising the trivial and trivialising the criminal.
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle
We should be able to vote on which judges we want in our courts, and also there should be a sentence tarrif, thus ensuring that if you kill someone you get life which means the rest of your nutural, not just 10 years reduced to 5 for good behaviour. I'm happy to pay more to build more prisons (about the only thing I'm happy for this government to spend my hard earned tax on). Like Steve, I hate this country and what its become, its now a multi-cultural cesspit and full of low lifes.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Labour:
Tough for the victims of crime, tough on the victims of crime.
Liberal-Loony-Lefties are not going to be tough on there own voters are they? This government have already automatically halved any sentence handed down. Pathetic.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
I wish one of these kids would stick a blade in me.I hate this country.
- Steve, London
Until the hoodies see first hand the harshness of punishment for just having a knife concealed on them while they are out in public then the more people in this country will be killed by these thugs and gangs.
This story only encourages these vermin to carry a knife David Hanson needs to understand the concept of what it is the judiciary and police are there to do;
Punish, rehabilitate or crime prevention.
Make the fear of being caught carrying a knife so real and the punishment so harsh, increase stop and search and if found with a knife 3 years minimum, because just having a knife shows INTENT, currently they get a warning. Ask the public and we will gladly spend more money on more prisons to keep these people off the streets, this would be money well spent.
- Gary, Brentwood
