Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to increase sentences for individuals that sell knives to (a) teenagers and (b) young people.

While it is the function of the independent judiciary to decide the sentence in individual cases, subject to the maximum sentence available and sentencing guidelines, tackling knife crime is a priority and the Government is determined to halve knife crime in a decade as part of its Safer Streets Mission. This is why, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will increase the maximum penalty for offences relating to offensive weapons from six months to two years’ imprisonment.

These are for the offences of manufacturing, selling, hiring, offer for hire, lending or possessing in private any prohibited offensive weapon as detailed in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988. These also cover the offence of selling a knife or bladed article to anyone under 18 years of age.

Currently, the law is that anyone over 18 years of age found guilty of any of these offences will face a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. This Government believes that the maximum penalty does not reflect the seriousness of these offences, and that the maximum penalty should be in line with the current offence of unlawful marketing of knives which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. This will align the maximum penalties for the offences in relation to sales of knives.

In addition to this, the Government has launched an Independent Review of Sentencing chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review aims to ensure that the sentencing framework is consistent, protects the public and that there is always a place in prison for violent offenders.