Knife Crime Debate

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Department: Home Office

Knife Crime

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Monday 4th March 2019

(5 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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This is a hugely important priority issue across the Government: it was discussed very recently, just in the past few weeks, in the Cabinet, and just a couple of weeks ago we had a debate in this House on serious violence, both to set out the Government’s plans but also to listen to hon. Members across the House on new initiatives that can be taken forward. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to talk about this being an urgent priority, and it is important that we all work together to see what more we can do.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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Are sentences served long enough?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My right hon. Friend will know that, as recently as 2015, changes were made to sentencing for serious violence crimes, including with bladed weapons. While it is right that the courts make decisions on sentencing based on the evidence and the facts in each case, we have seen a rise in custodial sentences. That is important, too, to make sure the right message and right deterrent are set out for these horrible crimes.