Tough action on knife crime

New figures have shown a big fall in knife crime across Merseyside.  Over the last year, there were 587 violent and sexual offences involving a knife or other sharp instrument.  Four years ago, there were almost 200 more such offences. 

Now, the Conservative-led Government has announced further proposals to reduce knife crime and punish those who carry a knife.  

Under Labour knife crime was out of control with almost 80 per cent of knife criminals avoiding jail. Criminals who were let out of prison early went on to reoffend, including violent offences, rape and murder.

New Government proposals will restore common sense to sentencing of criminals: more dangerous offenders will receive life sentences and knife-wielding youths will face prison.

We are introducing a ‘two strikes’ policy so that a mandatory life sentence will be given to anyone convicted of a second very serious sexual or violent crime.

• Any adult convicted of using a knife to threaten and endanger will go to jail
• and we propose that any 16 or 17 year old will face a custodial sentence for the same offence.
• We are ending the practice of releasing dangerous sexual and violent offenders halfway through their sentence. Those who have been convicted of the most serious crimes in this category will not be released before the end of their sentence without Parole Board approval.

If you’re planning to buy or carry a knife, it’s important to know the rules. Anyone found breaking these laws can face up to four years in prison.

These include:

• it is illegal for any shop to sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under the age of 18
• it is a crime to carry a knife in public without good reason – for example, if you work as a chef
• the maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5000
• it is illegal to carry, buy or sell any type of knife banned by the government (the list of banned knives is below)
• knives with folding blades, like Swiss Army knives, are not illegal as long as the blade is three inches long (7.62 cm) or less
• if any knife is used in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife), it is regarded as an 'offensive weapon' by the law
• any sharp instrument – even a screwdriver – can be viewed by the police as an illegal offensive weapon if you do not have a good reason for carrying it