Downing Street Says » Knife Crime

» Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Knife Crime

Asked if the Prime Minister thought it was absurd that there should be a minimum statutory sentence for knife crime, the Prime Minister’s Spokeswoman (PMS) said that the Green Paper set out the proposals yesterday, following a review. The Prime Minister’s view on knife crime was that those people who used knives to commit offences should expect to go to prison. As part of the Green Paper yesterday a review of Schedule 21 was announced, which provided guidance to the judiciary.

Put that the Justice Secretary had said yesterday that it was absurd to have statutory limits on the judiciary in terms of sentencing, the PMS said that the key point was that people who committed heinous offences were given the sentences they deserved. It was ultimately for the judges to decide what those sentences should be. The Schedule 21 review was about making the guidance simpler as at the moment it was too complex and over prescriptive.

Asked about the mandatory life sentence, the PMS said the mandatory life sentence would not change; this was about guidance to the judiciary.

Asked what the Prime Minister would say to the knife crime victims’ families, the PMS said that the Prime Minister felt that we needed to send a strong message to those who carried knives; people who committed knife crimes should expect tough sentences, including prison when necessary.

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