Research by YouGov has revealed that eight out of 10 Londoners agree with government proposals to introduce tougher sentences for knife crime.
Ministers are currently facing opposition from peers over an anti-knife crime Bill – some members of the House of Lords may attempt to block the Bill, which the Commons voted in favour of by 404 votes to 53.
The Conservative MP for Enfield North, Nick de Bois, is championing tougher sentences for knife crime – the Bill if passed would mean that anyone convicted of knife crime more than once would face an automatic prison sentence.
The proposals are intended to help reduce knife crime and tackle gang culture. The YouGov poll found that 35% of those questioned in London agreed with the proposals to introduce mandatory prison sentences for those convicted of knife crime more than once.
However, 46% of those polled felt the proposals could go further – with even tougher sentences for knife crime.
Those under the age of 25 felt automatic sentences were “too severe”, however.
In London, less than 10% of those under 18 who are convicted of knife crime are sent to jail, compared with 13% in the rest of England and Wales.
The Liberal Democrats are also opposed to the introduction of a mandatory jail term for those convicted of knife crime more than once – Labour supports the Bill, but LibDem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg thinks the proposals would fail to tackle gang culture.
YouGov researchers found, however, that 40% of those who said they would vote LibDem in next year’s General Election supported the Bill – and 30% felt the proposals to make sentences for knife crime tougher were actually “too lenient”.
The researchers found that just 30% of LibDem voters questioned agreed with Nick Clegg that the Bill was too radical.
In London, 35% of those questioned thought the proposals to tackle knife crime with tougher sentences were balanced.
If the Bill becomes law, courts would be able to hand out mandatory six-month sentences to those convicted of a second knife crime in England and Wales.
Young offenders aged 16-18 would receive a detaining and training order lasting at least four months.
Nearly half (43%) of all stabbings in England and Wales occur in London – recently it was reported that there has been an increase in knife-related incidents in schools, which may be underreported by teaching staff.
The Mirror newspaper reports that, during the last week of April – when 61-year-old teacher Ann Maguire was fatally stabbed by a pupil at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds – there was a knife-related incident reported every hour by a school, a total of 37 knife-related incidents in schools across the country over the last week of April.
Responding to the findings of the YouGov poll – which showed Londoners broadly support the anti-knife crime Bill – Conservative MP Nick de Bois said that the Lords “should think very carefully before trying to frustrate the clear will of the people”.
Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers
Duncan Lewis crime lawyers are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise on knife crime and gun crime.
Duncan Lewis crime lawyers regularly visit police stations, courts and prisons – including youth courts and Young Offender Institutions – and can advise on conviction and sentencing appeals, as well as Parole Board applications.
For expert legal advice on charges relating to knife crime and gun crime, contact Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.
For out-of-hours legal advice on crime charges and representation during questioning under caution at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers Out-of-Hours Hotline on 07920 077057.