Police call for minimum term for knife crime
30 Nov 05
Superintendents Association wants mandatory 18 month jail term
Senior police officers have called for a minimum 18-month prison sentence for those caught carrying knives.
The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) does not believe that the Scottish Executive is going far enough to tackle the country's knife culture.
However, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry rejected the suggestion, saying that a mandatory sentence would not solve the problem.
In a written submission to Holyrood's Justice 2 Committee yesterday, Peter Murphy of ASPS said that mandatory minimum sentences had helped reduce the number of drink drivers and that a similar move could substantially contribute to cutting knife crime.
ASPS warned that the new maximum sentences set out in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill currently going through Holyrood would have "limited effect". While the Executive has announced plans to increase sentences to four years, this will only apply to offenders in the most serious cases and the maximum for most knife-carriers, charged under summary proceedings, will be 12 months, as opposed to six months at present.
Last wek leading criminal QC Paul McBride suggested that a minimum jail term for knife crime would reduce the number of murders and slashings and eventually the message would get through.
Mr Henry said that an 18-month mandatory sentence would be too inflexible and he could imagine a scenario where someone carrying a knife for legitimate purposes ended up in prison for 18 months.
He added that the courts must be given leeway to reflect the particular circumstances of each case.