The petition of residents of the constituency of West Suffolk,
Declares that the rising incidence of illegal knife carrying in public poses a significant threat to public safety and calls for urgent intervention; further declares that such incidents contribute to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in our communities; further that preventative measures are necessary to address this issue effectively; further that the petitioners are of the opinion that a mandatory prison sentence for those caught carrying a knife illegally in public, coupled with a mandatory 6-month knife awareness course for rehabilitation, will act as a deterrent to contribute to the reduction of knife-related crimes; and further that the rehabilitation program should aim to address the root causes of such behaviour and facilitate the offender’s reintegration into society as law-abiding citizens.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider introducing measures which contribute to public safety and help address the root causes of illegal knife carrying, including introducing mandatory prison sentences for individuals caught carrying a knife illegally in public and implementing a mandatory 6-month knife awareness course for rehabilitation as part of the sentencing process.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Matt Hancock, Official Report, 22 April 2024; Vol. 748, c. 769.]
[P002947]
Observations from the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp):
Tackling knife crime is a priority for this Government. We are clear about the inherent seriousness of offences involving knives and are determined to do all we can to protect communities and see that knife crime offenders are brought to justice.
The Government are determined to tackle the underlying causes of serious violence, and we are redoubling our efforts with a twin-track approach, combining tough enforcement to get dangerous weapons off the streets with programmes that steer young people away from crime.
It is important that those who commit violent crimes receive appropriate, proportionate and robust sentences. Those caught carrying a knife are more likely to be sent to jail, and for longer, than they were in the year ending September 2013. In the year ending September 2023, 33% of knife-carrying offences resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, compared to 30% in the year ending September 2013, and the average immediate custodial sentence length has increased from 6.4 months in the year ending September 2013 to 7.5 months in the same period in 2023.
The maximum penalty for carrying a knife is 4 years of imprisonment. In recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the law already provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and offences that involve threatening with a weapon. Adults face a minimum of 6 months of imprisonment, while young people aged 16 or 17 face a four-month detention and training order. Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that they may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.
Measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which came into force on 28 June 2022, strengthened the existing provisions on minimum sentences by ensuring that the courts pass at least the minimum sentence for certain offences, including threat and repeat possession of a knife or offensive weapon, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
HM Prison and Probation Service takes a strategic approach to rehabilitation, informed by the best available evidence and current levels of investment. It focuses on the right rehabilitation approach for the right person at the right time. Services or interventions based on the notion that people will avoid committing crimes if they understand the negative consequences of offending have been shown, repeatedly, to fail to reduce recidivism.
Addressing the root causes of offending behaviour is critical. This has been shown to be effective when we target appropriately, offer proportionate levels of input and deliver it well. We do this through our provision of accredited programmes for people in prison and on probation. These programmes address offending behaviour by improving decision-making and problem-solving skills, teach individuals how to self-manage and regulate emotions, and are designed in line with the latest international evidence on what works to tackle reoffending. We run a range of programmes which may be suitable for people convicted in relation to illegal knife carrying, including Identity Matters and the thinking skills programme.
The Government are taking robust action to tackle knife crime, and other measures include a ban on zombie-style knives and machetes, which will come into force on 24 September 2024. We have also introduced the Criminal Justice Bill 2023, which will: provide more powers for police to seize knives held in private that they believe will be used for unlawful violence; increase the maximum penalty for the offences of selling prohibited weapons and selling knives to under 18s; and create a new offence of possessing an article with blade or point, or an offensive weapon, with intent to commit unlawful violence. The Online Safety Act 2023 also sets out a series of priority offences, which includes the sale of illegal knives.