Courts 'must halt epidemic of knife crime'

One of the country's most senior judges said today that the "most severe" sentences were needed to combat the "epidemic" of knife crime on Britain's streets.

In an Appeal Court edict which will set a precedent for other cases, Sir Igor Judge said that only then could knife crime be "confronted and stopped" and "mayhem" and murder prevented.

The call by Sir Igor, who as President of the High Court Queen's Bench is the country's second most senior judge, follows a series of stabbings in London and elsewhere, many involving teenage victims.

Critics have blamed some of the violence on the lenient sentences handed out to knife offenders.

Sir Igor's comments come after the killing of 40 teenagers in London since the start of last year, many of whom have been the victims of knife crime.

Prosecutors and the Met announced last year that offenders caught with a blade would in future escape with a caution. This month the Sentencing Guidelines Council, which advises judges and magistrates, said that those caught with a blade could be let off with a fine or a community punishment.

Official figures show that fewer than one in five of those caught carrying a blade are sent to prison.

Today, however, Sir Igor called for a far more robust approach from judges and magistrates as he spoke out before delivering rulings on appeals by offenders caught with weapons.

"Carrying a knife or offensive weapon without reasonable excuse is a crime which is being committed far too often by far too many people," he said.

"That is because, even if carried only for bravado or carried for some misguided sense that it would be used in possible selfdefence, it takes only a moment of irritation, drunkenness, anger, perceived insult, or something utterly trivial like a 'look', for the weapon to be produced.

"Then you have mayhem, and offences of the greatest possible seriousness follow, including murder, manslaughter, GBH, wounding and assault."

Sir Igor - who was sitting with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and Mr Justice Saunders - delivered his edict as he rejected appeals by three offenders carrying knives or bladed articles in public places.

He said his call for tougher sentences should apply even when offenders were merely caught carrying a blade because of the risk that it could lead to serious consequences. "In our view, it is important for public confidence in the criminal justice system that the man or woman caught in possession of a knife or offensive weapon without reasonable excuse should normally be brought before the courts and prosecuted," he added.