Knife crime spirals to highest rate in six years
Leicestershire Police record 33% increase in a year
HUNDREDS of people across Leicestershire have been jailed or cautioned for knife crime this year, leading to a spike in figures.
Official Government data shows that the number of offences has risen by more than a third in just one year.
Nearly 350 people were cautioned or jailed for possession of a blade in the 12 months to June this year, according to the Ministry of Justice.
In the same period in 2015/16 the total was 260.
The figures, which appear to be in line with the national trend, show that the last time such offences rose above 300 in a year was in 2011.
Over the following five years the number remained relatively stable, ranging from 230 to 278.
Neighbouring Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have not seen similar increases in the past year.
Last month, it was reported that the number of offences involving knives – from possession to wounding – has risen steadily across the city and county in the past two years.
Throughout 2015, Leicestershire Police recorded about 100 offences a month.
However, the number of crimes began to climb throughout 2016 and 2017, hitting a high point of 200 offenc- es in May this year.
More than 35,000 people have backed a Leicester mum’s campaign for the introduction of harsher penalties for people convicted of knife crimes.
Amy Morgan launched the online petition earlier this year to highlight the UK’s knife crime death toll – including the loss of her teenage son, Tyler Thompson.
Tyler, 16, was fatally stabbed in 2015 in Leicester by 19-yearold Pravdit Sian, who later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for nine years.
Amy said of the increase in knife possession offences: “It’s shocking. These figures are very high and I think it is because the punishment by the courts does not fit the crime.
“The courts are not having the deterrent effect we need.”
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz presented a Private Members’ Bill to Parliament earlier this year in response to Amy’s campaign.
Currently, adults convicted of possessing a knife can expect a minimum six-month prison term.
Mr Vaz says this should be raised to three to five years.
Earlier this summer, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Nixon reported the force had opened an unprecedented 11 murder or manslaughter inquiries in the first five months of the year.
Eight of those cases involved the use of knives.
The city and county had also experienced a spate of knife crimes in autumn last year.
Superintendent Shane O’Neill, who is overseeing the force’s ongoing Lives Not Knives campaign, said: “One incident involving a knife is one too many.
“Our officers are working every day to tackle this issue head-on and bring to justice those who commit knife crime.The public has a major role to play in helping us to tackle these crimes.”