Before Nick's brush with knife crime I had signed an online petition at 10 Downing Street saying:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce a mandatory minimum 5 year setence for the possesion of knives in public.”
Details of Petition:
“Given the increase in knife crime the time has come to introduce a madatory minimum 5 year sentence for the possesion of knives in public places. Maybe this way we can avoid the increase in the news headlines about this subject.”
I received the Government’s response on Thursday via email and thought you may be interested in reading it.
The Government takes knife crime very seriously. In 2006, we doubled the maximum sentence for possession of a knife without lawful authority or reasonable excuse from two to four years. Additionally, we have introduced a presumption to prosecute for this offence and people who are prosecuted for carrying a knife are now almost three times as likely to go to prison as in 1997, and for a third longer. There are, however, no plans to introduce a mandatory minimum sentence as suggested.
Where a knife is used in a crime, the consequences are likely to be very serious and a serious offence will be charged. Such offences carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment (for causing murder, manslaughter or causing grievous bodily harm with intent, for example).
Within the statutory limits, it is for the courts to determine what sentence to impose in any individual case, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, any aggravating or mitigating factors and relevant sentencing guidelines. The Sentencing Guidelines Council recently issued guidelines to the magistrates’ courts on the range of offences dealt with by those courts, including possession of a bladed article or an offensive weapon, to come into effect on 4 August. The Council has issued an update on 1 August relating to possession of a knife, in advance of the implementation of the new guidelines. This update reflects the recent comments of Sir Igor Judge in the Court of Appeal in which he stated that “Even if the offender does no more than carry the weapon, even when the weapon is not used to threaten or cause fear, when considering the seriousness of the offence, courts should bear in mind the harm which the weapon might foreseeably have caused.”
Within the statutory limits, it is for the courts to determine what sentence to impose in any individual case, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, any aggravating or mitigating factors and relevant sentencing guidelines. The Sentencing Guidelines Council recently issued guidelines to the magistrates’ courts on the range of offences dealt with by those courts, including possession of a bladed article or an offensive weapon, to come into effect on 4 August. The Council has issued an update on 1 August relating to possession of a knife, in advance of the implementation of the new guidelines. This update reflects the recent comments of Sir Igor Judge in the Court of Appeal in which he stated that “Even if the offender does no more than carry the weapon, even when the weapon is not used to threaten or cause fear, when considering the seriousness of the offence, courts should bear in mind the harm which the weapon might foreseeably have caused.”
It is encouraging, we just have to wait and see if the courts take any notice.
There are any number of petitions on the go at any one time and I have signed quite a few, if you're interested see Petitions homepage.
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As usual we took Sam, Harry and Gracie to Great-Granddads on Saturday afternoon.
On the way home Sam sat in the middle of the back seat, with Harry and Gracie on either side. Suddenly Gracie piped up
On the way home Sam sat in the middle of the back seat, with Harry and Gracie on either side. Suddenly Gracie piped up
"Harry bit me!"
I quickly turned my head expecting to see Harry with his teeth embedded in Gracie's arm, of course he wasn't, he was strapped in his carseat.
"Harry couldn't have bitten you Gracie, he's nowhere near you" I said.
"She means yesterday Nanna" piped up Harry "but it was an accident!"
You can bite someone by accident???????
"Harry couldn't have bitten you Gracie, he's nowhere near you" I said.
"She means yesterday Nanna" piped up Harry "but it was an accident!"
You can bite someone by accident???????
27 comments:
sorry i am so late getting here akelamelu. your 55 made me giggle, what traveler cannot identify? the scrabble word challenge was clever. some of those words i can't imagine trying to get all in one paragraph otherwise.
it sure is a scary world we are living in now...
smiles, bee
xoxxoxoxoxoxoxox
I'm still reeling from how powerful the NRA is here and how many Americans are carrying guns - thinking they're 'militia' or 'Rambo'.
Pathetic!
I like the story about "biting by accident". I've heard my children say that too.
of course you can bite by accident!!! my grandkids do it all the time!!!! LOL
I giggled when you told me, I giggled again when i read it. Proud of you hon, lets get these thugs behind bars..........
I hope the courts will take notice appropriately. As for ‘accidental’ biting (not to mention other things) … I’m always amazed at the ‘excuses’ kids will offer for such incidents … and the stories they tell about one another.
Hugs and blessings,
I'm against mandatory sentences on principle but I do think people caught with knives should be sentenced perhaps to five years in the stocks so we can throw putrid eggs and squishy tomatoes at them. The little rotters of today surely deserve that!!
it's a total bugger. Scary episode for Nick. I've blogged a bit on this, and in particular how we all had knives when we were kids and we never used them on each other, or even thought about it. I conclude it's not knives as such, but how brutish many of us have become. One despairs.
I mostly agree, although there would have to some sort for exception for small pocket knives (of the Swiss Army variety), wouldn't there?
This is so good to hear, Akelamalu, because I for one totally agree with this petition.
It's the same way I feel about guns too!
I don't see the reasoning why anyone should freely be carrying around a weapon with them!?!?
It's ridiculous!
Thanks for sharing this, dear lady!
P.S. And that's TOOOO cute about Gracie!!
I'm on the fence about mandatory sentencing. I prefer the judges have discretion based on the facts of each case and the extenuating circumstances.
It sounds like your courts are on top of it though.
Ake...Trust me.
You CAN indeed bite someone by accident....And a little too hard!
hehehehe...G
I'm so impressed by my friends near and in the blogophere who take their role as a citizen seriously. Applauding you for your action on behalf of knife-wielding laws, Akelamalu.
oo..knife crime! we seldom hear this case in our country. coz we use rifle. LOL
have a great day, akela! :)
Aww, bless Harry!
I'm going over to the petitions page right now. x
Hey::~ the butterfly pointer has gone!
I think we've all felt like biting someone by accident! Off to the petitions page Ak - a good one thanks.
O! 2 mins later and the butterfly's reappeared!!
No problem Lime, thanks for popping in and I'm pleased you enjoyed the 55 and wordzzle. :)
You said it Bee!
Thankfully it's not legal to carry guns here Dianne and I hope it never will be.
MWM and I had a chuckle about that too CG :)
LOL they're little tinkers aren't they Catch! :)
That's exactly what they are Queenie, thugs, and should be treated as such!
Oh yes Storyteller, they take any opportunity to get each other into trouble!
I can't agree with you on this one Gleds, anyone carrying a knife is up to no good and until harsher sentences are imposed for carrying knives it won't stop.
MWM said he and his friends all had penknives when they were younger too Ernest but there was no thought of using them on anything living. Not so the case now, people carry them to intimidate others and with the intention of causing harm.
Unfortunately thugs can do as much damage with a penknife as any other knife so exceptions would just confuse the issues I think Citizen.
My thoughts exactly Ron, we're reading from the same hymn sheet here honey. x
Knife crime has escalated recently Trav and I think the only way to stop people carrying knives is the threat of a mandatory sentence. If they don't carry knives no-one get's stabbed in my view.
Mmmmm what have you been up to g-man? ;)
I didn't start the petition Julia but I was more than happy to sign it. I actually sign quite a lot - when I agree with the sentiments.
Guns are even worse Elween, the attacker doesn't even have to get close!
You'll be on the petitions page all day MissU - I usually am! :)
LOL yes there have been times Flowerpot! ;)
Glad you've found the butterfly again Gleds :)
I hope that your petition goes through and that they can do something about the increase in knife crime. It really is very scary.
I'm sure I must have accidentally bit someone before - especially as a child when you're roughhousing and accidents happen!
Thank you for visiting my blog.
The law certainly needs to be tightened up where knives are concerned. Too many young people have been killed or injured recently.
Good for you. Good for you.
I have something for you at the castle...
It wasn't my petition Linda, I just signed it. It has gone through, what you see is the Government's response.
I think the only thing I've ever bitten is my tongue!
You got that right Cheshire Wife, thanks for stopping by.
I've picked up the awards, thank yo Mimi, you're a Queen!
Well, sometimes an arm or a hand just accidentally flies between some teeth and decides to linger there. Wouldn't you call that an accident?
LOL you're probably right San!
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