Calls To Punish Those Selling Knives to Children
July 29, 2008 8:21 PM
Liberal Democrats in Norwich are calling for tougher action against those caught selling knives to children and young people.
Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, made the call after being sent figures for prosecutions that were uncovered in Parliament by Chris Huhne MP, the party's Shadow Home Secretary.
The figures reveal that:
- Only 71 people have been successfully prosecuted for selling knives to children in the last five years
- None were sent to prison and only one was given a community sentence
- 56 people were fined, but 21 of them were given fines of less than £200
"A lack of custodial punishment and these very low fines are a completely inadequate deterrent to those who profit from the illegal sales of knives. It is completely unacceptable that those shop keepers who behave in such an unscrupulous manner should receive so little punishment for selling lethal weapons to children."
"Here in Norfolk, we have had 67 serious offences involving knives over the last year. That is much lower than in many other places, but it is 67 offences too many."
"Too many children and young people are being drawn into a culture of carrying knives because they are so easily available. Young people are also more likely to be the victim of knife crime. We need action now break this cycle, which can be achieved in part by cutting the illegal supply of knives to children.
"The courts must take a much stronger stand against those who are fuelling knife crime. Failure to act now could see a strengthening of the knife carrying culture."
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