Tougher knife laws are still needed
5th July 2006
Dr Alan Whitehead MP has declared that tougher knife laws are still needed despite the promising results of the nationwide knife amnesty which ended last week. The amnesty followed the high profile and senseless stabbing of schoolboy Kiyan Prince in Edgeware, and was backed up by a tough police enforcement campaign to drive home the message that carrying knives will not be tolerated.
In Southampton, a total of 637 knives were handed over in Bitterne, Shirley, Portswood and Central police stations during the amnesty which ran from the 24th May until 30th June. However, Dr Whitehead, a vocal advocate of the amnesty, believes more needs to be done to tackle the knife culture among young people, with stronger laws key to this. Prior to the amnesty, one in four 15- to 16-year-olds having admitted to carrying a knife, either as a fashion accessory, to give them "credibility", or out of a perceived fear.
Dr Whitehead said:
“The results of the knife amnesty are clear: not only are there are now 637 less lethal weapons on Southampton’s streets, but the message is starting to get through that carrying a knife does not make you safer.
However, more needs to be done. We need tougher sentences for people who carry knives, we know that a knife can inflict the same fatal injuries as a gun, and this needs to be reflected in the law.”
Dr Whitehead added:
“We need to get knives out of the hands of young people and more crucially out of Southampton schools. The amnesty was a good start, but now we need new laws to stop minors buying knives altogether and to empower school staff with the right to search students for weapons if they think it’s necessary as other pupils may be in danger. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important MPs support the Violent Crime and Reduction Bill currently going through Parliament.”
More informartion
- The knife amnesty ran for five weeks from May 24th to June 30th.
- Dr Whitehead is supporting the Government's Violent Crime Reduction Bill. Provisions relating to knives in the Bill [see Home Office press notice 088 /05] propose to (i) raise the minimum age at which a young person can buy knife from 16 to 18 and (ii) introduce a power for head-teachers and other members of staff to search pupils for knives
- Current legislation relating to knives:
- The Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the carrying of any offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. A public place includes private premises to which the public have access. An offensive weapon is defined as any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person, or intended by the person for such use. Maximum penalty: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine.
- The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 prohibited the manufacture, sale, hire or offer for sale or hire, and importation of flick knives and gravity knives. Maximum penalty: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine.
- The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 1988 created an offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful excuse. An exemption applies to folding pocket knives with a blade of less than three inches. Maximum penalty: up to two years imprisonment.
- CJA 1988 also created a similar offence of having a knife or article with blade on school premises. Maximum penalty: up to four years imprisonment.
- CJA 1988 also prohibited the manufacture, sale, hire, offer for sale or hire of a range of weapons specified in the Criminal Justice Act (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988. These are mainly items designed to cause serious injury, for example knuckledusters, handclaws and certain martial arts equipment, or those which can be easily concealed, including swordsticks. Maximum penalty: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine.
- Offensive Weapons Act 1996 amended the 1988 Act to prohibit the sale of knives and certain articles with a blade or point to persons under the age of 16. Maximum penalty: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine.
- Knives Act 1997 created offences relating to the unlawful marketing of knives as suitable for combat, or in ways likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour. It also extended the power to stop and search in anticipation of violence contained in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Maximum penalty: six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine.
- Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as amended by the Knives Act 1997, contains a power under which an officer of inspector rank or above could, in certain circumstances, authorise police officers within a given area to stop and search for offensive weapons.