Concern at knife crime sentences

Fewer than one in five people charged with knife offences are sent to prison, Metropolitan (Met) Police figures show.

Staff monitored 103 individuals charged with such offences in one week in June during an anti-knife crime operation.

Of 24 youths who had been dealt with in court by 28 July, just one was jailed. Of the 29 adults sentenced by the same date, eight received jail terms.

The figures, collated during Operation Blunt, showed 17%, or fewer than one in five, offenders were jailed.

Knife licence consultation launch

Dealers in non-domestic knives could be required to have a licence under proposals from the Scottish Government.

Measures could include keeping full descriptions of knives sold, along with detailed records of how a customer's age and identity were verified.

Mr MacAskill said: "There is no doubt that weapons such as hunting and combat knives can, in the wrong hands, be part of this problem.
"They can injure, maim and kill, and we need to make sure they are only sold to people with a legitimate reason for buying them."

Mr MacAskill said the government was also suggesting that anyone who wanted to buy a sword must be able to prove what they intend to use it for, such as by producing a membership card or letter from a society with a recognised reason for using swords.