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Brown meets police on knife crime Knife prosecution age limit cut
(10 days later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to meet police chiefs and lawyers later to discuss plans to prosecute 16 and 17-year-olds caught carrying knives. Anyone aged 16 or over in England and Wales who carries a knife could be taken to court, under new guidelines for police and prosecutors.
On Wednesday he said carrying knives was "unacceptable" and pledged extra stop and search powers for police. The change follows a meeting between Gordon Brown, police and legal chiefs, to extend the "presumption of prosecution" in knife cases.
Current police guidance in England and Wales is to prosecute adults caught with a knife, but caution under-18s. Previous police guidance was to prosecute adults caught with a knife, but to caution those under 18.
On Monday a 15-year-old girl, who was stabbed, became the 16th teenager to be fatally attacked in London this year. But one government adviser branded the change "gesture politics".
Mr Brown will meet representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the director of public prosecutions at an early morning meeting in Downing Street on Thursday. Previously, the "presumption of prosecution" had applied only to those aged over 18 who carry a knife without good reason.
'Feel safe' Younger teenagers caught with a knife were often not charged or were cautioned.
MPs are also set to hold a special 90-minute Commons debate on the issue. Police used their discretion over whether to caution a 16- or 17-year-old by considering aggravating factors, such as whether the person is under the influence of drink or drugs.
Currently the "presumption of prosecution" only applies to those aged over 18. Younger teenagers caught with a knife are often not charged or are cautioned. Someone confronts you, you can't back down, you can't lose status. And before you know it you're sucked in Sarah, 17 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7438082.stm">'I left street life' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7437746.stm">Reaction to knife crime change
On Wednesday Mr Brown said all MPs would agree with ACPO proposals that the presumption to prosecute those carrying knives should be extended to 16-year-olds. But now anyone over 16 can expect to be prosecuted on their first offence.
We need to send out a signal to those who carry knives for no good reason, that they can expect the police service to do its best to get them before a court Ken JonesAssociation of Chief Police Officers Mr Brown met representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and the director of public prosecutions at the Downing Street meeting.
"Every parent will want their teenage sons and daughters not only to be safe, but feel safe in our neighbourhoods," he said. Also present were Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Attorney-General Baroness Scotland.
"That's why knives are unacceptable and we've got to do everything in our power to deter them. Mr Brown said: "We want people to understand, particularly parents, that when children and young people are carrying knives, they are putting other children and young people at risk."
"That's why the average sentence for carrying a knife is rising and that's why there are three times as many people in prison for possession of knives. The director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald QC, told Mr Brown at the meeting: "When people come to us their expectation is a prosecution will follow.
"That's why also we are using the powers of stop and search. That's why arches and metal detectors are being used. "What we are proposing is that if people are carrying a knife and are prosecuted for other offences, they will be prosecuted for the knife too.
"That's why we need visible policing to back up our safer schools policy, support for parents in their communities and the education programme we are carrying out." "We have set out some further guidance that the public interest is in favour of prosecution.
'Worrying trend' "It has become fashionable [to carry a knife]. What we want people to understand is they put themselves at risk carrying these sorts of weapons."
Metropolitan Police figures show that the number of victims of knife crime have gone down. In the year to March 2008, there were 10,220 such crimes, compared with 12,124 for the previous year - a reduction of 15.7%. 'Use discretion'
Acpo president Ken Jones said officers would still use discretion.
He said: "But the point at which they now would consider this individual has no previous conviction, there are no aggravating factors, that he or she might be subject to a caution, we are now saying no, that is now removed.
"We are not out to criminalise people who have a good reason for being in possession of a knife, but frankly what good reasons would a youngster have for even carrying a penknife?"
But Professor Rod Morgan, former chairman of the youth justice board and one of the government's advisers on youth justice, branded the latest idea "gesture politics".
He said: "The police have all the powers they need to deal with what is a problem in some areas, but they need to be given discretion to respond to events as they find them."
And Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the violence reduction unit in Glasgow, said criminal justice did not work on its own.
"We need to do other things - if we want to change attitudes, if we want to change culture, that's not a role simply for the police. That involves everyone," he said.
The change in policy on cautions is part of a package of measures announced by the Home Office.
Gordon Brown on knife crime
Police in areas suffering from knife crime will receive £5 million to help fund greater use of searches, courses for young people caught with knives and home visits and letters to parents.
A new scheme in which hospital A&E units in "hotspot" areas would pass information about injuries caused by weapons to the police is also being discussed.
Victims younger
Metropolitan Police figures show that the number of victims of knife crime have been going down.
In the year to March 2008, there were 10,220 such crimes, compared with 12,124 for the previous year - a reduction of 15.7%.
But the number of 11 to 18-year-olds attacked with knives between April and July 2006 rose by 4.5% compared with the same period in 2005.But the number of 11 to 18-year-olds attacked with knives between April and July 2006 rose by 4.5% compared with the same period in 2005.
Last year 27 teenagers in London met violent deaths, compared with 17 in 2006 and 15 in 2005.Last year 27 teenagers in London met violent deaths, compared with 17 in 2006 and 15 in 2005.
If the answer was to lock up more young people then we would have solved the problem years ago David ChaytorRainer youth charity
ACPO President Ken Jones said a "worrying trend" had emerged with more serious knife attacks and younger teenagers involved in attacks.
He told the BBC a clear message had to be sent: "You are not going to get ticked off for this, on first offence we will do our best to get you into court.
"I think this is the right thing to do and it's sending a message out to youngsters: 'don't carry knives.' Because it's not just about enforcement, we've got to actually change the culture around this problem, and that involves all of us, frankly."
But David Chaytor, of the youth charity Rainer, told the BBC: "If the answer was to lock up more young people, then we would have solved the problem years ago - we have already tripled the number of young people prosecuted for carrying a knife."
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