Hundreds of repeat knife offenders spared jail despite ‘two strikes’ crackdown

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery The proportion of repeat knife offenders caught with a blade being sent to prison has fallen, the latest figures show The findings by The Independent have escalated demands for a royal commission by the Police Federation of England and Wales which accused judges and magistrates of sentencing on “knee-jerk reactions” driven by budget and a lack of prison places. Campaigners say stronger punishments need to be given to stop young people from carrying knifes The requirement to jail repeat knife offenders was the result of an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act, nicknamed the “two-strike rule”, under former prime minister David Cameron. The latest NHS data also showed there were 3,775 hospital admissions with ”sharp object” attacks in England in the financial year 2022-23 – an increase of 4 per cent on 2014-15. open image in gallery Steve Hartshorn, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, is calling for a review on the sentences given to repeat knife offenders Steve Hartshorn, chair of the police federation, said: “Decisions on sentencing guidelines appear to be knee-jerk reactions, driven by budget and the availability of prison places rather than by logic or strategy, which hamstrings the ability of judges to pass appropriate sentences.” He claimed a failure by judges and magistrates not to back up the work of police officers after identifying and arresting those carrying knives was a factor in a recent survey that found more than nine in 10 officers were suffering from low morale. He said: “Although magistrates can and do impose such custodial sentences where appropriate, it is generally recognised that short custodial sentences are not very effective in promoting rehabilitation, and thus, where there are suitable alternatives to immediate custody, these are used instead.” The MoJ said 33 per cent of all knife-carrying offences led to an immediate prison sentence in the year to September 2023, with the average prison sentence given being seven and a half months.