Record 21,000 knife convictions
POLICE and judges have punished the highest number of weapon-wielding thugs in eight years, Ministry of Justice figures revealed yesterday.
More than 21,000 people were dealt with by the criminal justice system in the year to September, but it emerged that more criminals with previous convictions for carrying blades are receiving community sentences, prompting fury from campaigners.
Patrick Green, chief executive of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust, said: “It is alarming. It shows the revolving door we have with people who carry knives despite being arrested and given a community sentence.
“It has been a terrible year for knife crime. We have what appears to be a growing number of teenagers who are prepared to carry knives and it shows the importance of addressing this problem early.
“This is the worst year for knife crime for a decade. For the families of those bereaved, life will never be the same again, Christmas will never be the same again. Knife crime just destroys lives.”
Ministry of Justice figures show 242 people with one previous conviction or caution were let back on the streets, compared to 228 in 2017, while 134 people with 3+ convictions were let out (117 in 2017) with suspended sentences. This is the highest total since 2008.
In the year to September, 13,477 offences of possessing an article with a blade or point resulted in a conviction or caution in England and Wales. In addition, there were 6,946 cases where an individual was found with an offensive weapon and 958 where a knife or weapon was used to make threats against others.
Harry Fletcher, of the Victims’ Rights Campaign, said: “This is another example of the courts being encouraged not to use short custodial sentences because the jails are dangerous and full.
“It is extremely concerning they are getting younger. It has massive implications for safety at school. This reflects on the inadequacy of safer neighbourhood teams. Those teams have been cut by 75 per cent.”
Justice minister Rory Stewart said: “Knife crime has devastating consequences on families, children and communities. Offenders simply cannot go unpunished.
“These figures show we are catching and prosecuting more of those carrying knives and other weapons, and sending them to prison for longer.
“But we must do more, and through the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy we are working to prevent young people from ever picking up a knife in the first place.”