Anyone caught brandishing a knife will be jailed for six months the Prime Minister declared today.
Mr Cameron announced the automatic jail sentence in the wake of rows over soft sentencing. Although the new ‘aggravated knife carrying’ law will apply to anyone using a knife alongside threatening or intimidating behaviour the Prime Minister has not quite held up his pre-election promise of an automatic sentence for anyone caught carrying a knife.
The announcement was one of many that signal a move by the Government to take a strong position on law and order. Mr Cameron said: “My mission is to make sure that families can feel safe in their homes, and they can walk the streets freely, without fear.”
Consultations will be held over the following intended measures:
• The ‘Tony Martin’ law to enable homeowners to defend their property, named after the Norfolk farmer who famously shot dead a burglar.
• Stripping squatters of their right to legal assistance, including a major shake-up of the archaic laws surrounding squatting.
• A review of indeterminate prison sentences
• Results-based reward system for bodies running rehabilitative programmes in the community or in prison
Following such high profile cases as the death of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, five teenagers have been stabbed in London this year alone.
Mr Cameron said: “Even after all these tragedies; far too many people still think they can go out armed with a knife. We need to send the clearest possible message that this simply has to change. So we will introduce for the first time in legislation a compulsory jail term for anyone threatening someone with a knife.”
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