Crime Solicitors

The Home Office has announced plans to consult on new offences to toughen up knife crime laws, including restricting the online sale of knives and banning possession of dangerous or offensive weapons on private property.

The proposal follows calls from the police for more powers to take action if they find weapons on private property – and Home Secretary Amber Rudd has announced her intention to tighten the law, in order to stop under-18s being able to purchase knives.

The proposed measures would mean anyone who bought a knife online would be required to collect it in person, with retailers responsible for checking the age of all buyers.

It is already an offence to sell knives to those under 18 – the new offences would mean knives could no longer be delivered to private property, making it harder for underage sales to go undetected.

Banning the possession of outlawed weapons – such as zombie knives, knuckledusters and ‘throwing stars’ – on private property would mean police would be able to seize them and make arrests.

The consultation will also seek views on whether the offence of possessing a knife in a public place and school premises should be extended to also include the grounds of other educational establishments, such higher education institutions.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

“Knife crime has devastating consequences – I am determined to tackle this and do all I can to break the deadly cycle and protect our children, families and communities.

“The action I am setting out today will help keep people safe and give police the powers they need to crack down on offenders.

“Prevention is also key – and we will be working to educate our young people and give them the strength they need to turn away from knives.”

ONS recorded police crime figures for the year ending December 2016 show more than 32,000 knife crime offences took place – a 14% increase on the previous year.

ONS says that, although some of the increase is down to improved police recording practices, it may also represent a real increase in some areas of the country.

There were more than 4,000 hospital admissions for assaults involving sharp weapons in England in the year ending March 2016 – a 13% rise – with 771 cases involving children or teenagers aged 19 or under.

In 2016, the government banned the sale of so-called zombie knives and is working with major retailers to prevent the underage sale of knives.

The police-led Operation Sceptre is also a series of co-ordinated weeks of intensified action on knife crime which takes place across the country – including weapon sweeps, test purchases in shops, targeted use of stop-and-search powers, and the use of surrender bins.

A record 32 police forces are taking part in the current week of action, which began on Monday (17/07/17), after the Home Office hosted a summit in June to encourage more forces to get involved.

In addition, the government is considering a series of new, non-legislative measures to tackle knife crime as part of a comprehensive action being set out – and intends to launch a new anti-knife crime campaign in the Autumn and a new £500,000 fund for community projects tackling the issue.

There are also plans to expand the capacity of youth violence intervention projects based in hospital emergency departments, to reach and try to divert at risk young people away from knife crime.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage a charge involving violent crime, including gang crime, manslaughter, murder, attempted murder, robbery with violence, gun crime, knife crime, acid attacks, rape and ABH/GBH or assault.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on charges relating to violent crime, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.