KNIFE SALES CONVICTIONS

Information obtained by the Conservatives has revealed that just one person has received a custodial sentence for selling knives to children since 1997 and no-one has received the maximum fine of £5,000.  The news comes less than three months after the Home Secretary launched an initiative to curb under-age sales of bladed weapons highlighting what she described as “tough laws”. 

Figures just released by the Ministry of Justice in response to a Parliamentary question raised by Shadow Crime Reduction Minister James Brokenshire show that in 2007 – the last year for which figures are available – just 32 people were sentenced for selling knives under age with the most significant punishment handed down being a fine of £2,000 – less than half of the statutory maximum.

Commenting, James Brokenshire said:

“It’s shocking that so few people are getting punished by the courts for selling blades to kids. Even when they do they get fined a fraction of the £5,000 that could be given to them.  Shopkeepers who are caught selling knives under-age should expect to receive a more significant punishment.

“It’s all very well Jacqui Smith talking about tough laws on knife sales, but laws are only as good as the enforcement that underpins them.  On the basis of these figures the Government simply isn’t following through on its promises get knives off our streets.”

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