1,300 knife thugs escaped jail term

Fury as SNP justice system fails to put victims first

MoRE than 1,300 violent knife thugs have escaped prison sentences over the past ten years – including killers.

Despite the sNP’s pledge to crack down on offenders, new figures have revealed hundreds of criminals caught carrying and using blades have been spared prison sentences.

official statistics show there have been 4,617 people convicted of a crime involving a knife since 2007 – with 161 murders, 192 culpable homicides, 912 robberies and 1,698 serious assaults.

But, 1,339 of these offences have not resulted in jail time for the perpetrator.

among those walking free have been nine attempted murderers and three people convicted of culpable homicide. scottish conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘the sNP promised to get tough on knife crime but these figures show the reverse has happened.

‘the fact a third of people convicted of knife-related offences escape jail exposes the soft-touch nature of the sNP government.

‘that does nothing to deter others from carrying and using a knife, and is an insult to victims.

‘this area in particular is one the public expect the authorities to be tough on.’

other criminals caught with knives who have managed to avoid prison are 130 robbers, 315 people convicted of serious assault and 881 found guilty of common assault. In 2016-17, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 456 crimes involving a knife, the highest in four years.

however, this is slightly down on 2012-13, when there were 525 offences.

Jail sentences for knife crime have been getting longer followshire, ing an sNP pledge for a crackdown in 2012.

John Muir has been campaigning against knife crime since his son Damian was brutally killed over a decade ago.

the 34-year-old was stabbed to death in Greenock, Renfrew- in an unprovoked attack by thug Barry Gavin, who was out on bail at the time – after being charged with three previous assaults.

Mr Muir said: ‘the public expect tough sentences for violent criminals who use a knife but I do feel they are not getting the justice they deserve.’

a scottish Government spokesman said: ‘sentencing in each case is always, rightly, a matter for independent judges and sheriffs.

‘however, we have given the courts extra sentencing powers for knife possession convictions, where average prison terms have more than doubled since 2007.

‘average sentences for other more serious offences involving a knife, such as serious assault and culpable homicide, have also increased.’