Criminals face jail if caught twice with corrosive liquids

CRIMINALS who are caught twice with corrosive substances will automatically face a prison sentence of at least six months under proposals to counter the threat of acid attacks.

The “two strikes” rule will mirror the regime for those convicted of more than one knife possession offence.

As part of a crackdown on violent crime, new laws could be introduced on knives, guns and the possession of corrosive substances, the Home Office has announced. Online retailers could face criminal proceedings if they deliver knives to a buyer’s home, in a measure aimed at clamping down on sale of blades to children and teenagers, while knives could also be banned from colleges, as well as schools.

There has been surge in violence offences recorded by police and after a flurry of acid attacks, earlier this month the Government announced plans to create a new offence of possession of a corrosive substance in public without a good or lawful reason.

The full Home Office consultation document published today reveals the proposed crackdown will also see those convicted for a second time face a mandatory minimum sentence.

A new offence to stop the sale of acids and harmful corrosive substances to under-18s is also being weighed up. Police figures show there were 408 attacks using corrosive substances between Nov 2016 and April this year.