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Murderers who kill with a knife will face a minimum jail term of 25 years from today.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw moved to increase the sentence from 15 years after a campaign by the family of Ben Kinsella, the 16-year-old who was stabbed to death on a night out in north London.
Three men given life sentences for the killing were told they can be released after 19 years.
The change means judges' starting point for sentences will increase to slightly less than the 30-year term for gun killings.
Mr Straw said: “I have seen the devastation that knife crime can cause. The loss of a loved one in any circumstances is heartbreaking, and even more so when they are the victim of a senseless and appalling murder.
“It is only right that those who carry knives with the intention of using them go to prison for a long time.
“I am determined to stamp out knife crime on our streets. The Government is very clear that serious crimes must have serious consequences.”
Reader views (12)
You can tell there is an election in the offing - the promises are pouring from the labour party like verbal diarrhoea. Straw's pathetic attempt at wooing voters by raising the sentence for knife killers to 25 years comes a bit late in the day and is totally meaningless when everyone knows they will be released after serving 12 years - or 8 years as in the case of James Bulger's murderers.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 03/03/2010 10:58
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Blah, blah, blah, do us all a favour Strawman, shut up, you are like a pane of glass - we can see right through your lies and spin.
- Danny'S Nan, London, England, 02/03/2010 15:53
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Just another election announcement.
Even I might sit up if they actually announced that Life will mean life, that is a whole life sentance. When even an evil killer like the Yorkshire Ripper feels able to appeal for early release you know that there is something wrong with the system.
Still election coming, I'm sure Dave is going to make some announcements about law and order soon...won't he? I mean he will soon won't he?........Dave, remember Toryism?....law and order?.........Dave?
Oh all women/ethnic candidate short lists, mmmmm just what we wanted.
Wonder why it's all going wrong Dave?
- Ronnie, what used to be England, 02/03/2010 14:31
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I hear that their first promise in their manifesto is to reduce immigration to fifty million per year!That will guarantee them re-election.
- Alan, Chigwell., 02/03/2010 14:02
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With all this talk of law and order from the government anyone would think there's an election coming up!
- I Taylor, Preston, Lancs., 02/03/2010 13:57
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I would build a prison somewhere really remote like Orkney or The Falklands.No visitors or mobile signal and I'd put all the real scum and nutters in it.How about Charles Bronson and Baby Ps killer in the same cell?
Then leave them all to rot!
That's a deterrent-not pussy footing about with Human Rights.
- Alan, Wimbledon, 02/03/2010 13:31
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Who rattled Jack Straw's cage?
NuLieBore have had THIRTEEN YEARS to address the problem of knife crime and what have they done? NOTHING. SWEET NOTHING.
Go back to sleep parasite Straw - a total waste of space.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR (formerly England), 02/03/2010 12:51
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silly jack needs to get his act together yesterday he was telling cons to book early on the new scheme to get early release now the old scheme is ending and he did not want to upset them
- Anon Leicester, leicester, 02/03/2010 12:20
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As if that will scare them ! BIG DEAL !
- A.Taxcow, london, 02/03/2010 12:16
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The laws are fine, it's making sure the judge is not still in cloud cuckoo land when he/she hands down the sentence.
- Dom, London, 02/03/2010 11:56
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All murder sentences must be 25 to life, nothing less and no exceptions.
Its time Britain implemented a 3 strikes and your out system for all violent offences.
There's 150,000 recidivist criminals in the UK so why are there only 90,000 prison places? Clearly we need at least 200,000 and longer (escalating) sentences imposed for all offences.
This shower have been nothing but soft on crime as they don't have to live with it in their ivory towers patrolled by armed guards.
- Stew, London, 02/03/2010 11:48
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Wow, election policies flying out this failed, lumbering Labour government by the dozens.
Still cant wait to see what they "promise" us in their election manifesto this time round. Should be a good laugh.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/03/2010 11:43
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