Shropshire Star

Police commissioner calls for longer knife crime sentences

People who use knives to kill or threaten should receive "more severe sentencing" according to the region's crime commissioner.

Published
Rosina Cottage QC

While calling for stiffer sentences, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion also wants more education and early intervention on the issue.

His comments come as it was revealed that only one in four knife criminals in West Mercia face an immediate prison sentence.

He said that even though the number of cases in the region is fewer than seen in come cities, it does not mean the issue is not taken "very seriously".

Mr Campion said education of young people is key to preventing the incidents happening in the first place.

Intervention

He said: “While we don’t have the same level of incidents involving knives, as experienced in other towns and cities, we do take the issue very seriously.

"I believe that those who choose to carry a knife and/or then go on to use it should be reprimanded – be that in the form of a sentence, that is appropriate to the crime, or rehabilitation to ensure they don’t go on to commit further offences.

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“In many cases, particularly where someone has been threatened or killed, I believe there should be more severe sentencing.

"However, it’s also important we get in with early interventions such as education.

"We know the majority of knife related incidents involve young people carrying knives which is why we work closely with other agencies to educate young people around the dangers of carrying a knife.”

Sentencing guidelines prove to be contentious

Last year saw the highest number of cautions or convictions for knife crimes in nine years – but concerns remain over sentencing.

In recent years the Government has changed tact on sentencing, with a renewed focus on using stronger “deterrent” sentences to discourage the possession of blades. But whether the current measures are strong enough has been a contentious issue.

In June last year, new sentencing guidelines came into force across England and Wales, suggesting appropriate tariffs for a range of knife related offences. And while on the face of it the law has tightened up with regards to mandatory sentences, there are still circumstances when such tariffs are not applied.

If an offender is convicted of a second knife offence, courts must impose a mandatory minimum sentence of six months’ imprisonment for an adult or four months’ detention and training order for a youth – unless there are circumstances that make it unjust to do so. Offenders who threaten with knives should always receive sentences greater than six months.

Seriousness

However, courts can decide not to impose statutory minimum sentences if they believe doing so would be “unjust”. When making its decision courts consider the following factors: the offender’s personal circumstances; whether there is a strong prospect of rehabilitation; and whether custody will result in significant impact on others. For the majority of first-time possession offences, sentences range from a community order to 30 months behind bars.

The location of the offence is an important factor here, with possession of a knife in a school, for example, likely to lead to a greater sentence than for an offence committed on the street.

Sentencing Council member Rosina Cottage QC said: “Too many people in our society are carrying knives. If someone has a knife on them, it only takes a moment of anger or drunkenness for it to be taken out and for others to be injured or killed. These guidelines give courts comprehensive guidance to ensure sentences reflect the seriousness of offending.”