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<p>The Ministry of Justice is working closely with other departments, to tackle the
serious issue of knife crime, which we recognise is an absolute priority.</p><p> </p><p>The
Courts already have a comprehensive range of sentencing options. Unlawful possession
of a knife or offensive weapon in public is a serious criminal offence which a maximum
penalty of four years’ imprisonment. Since 2015, adults now face a minimum sentence
of 6 months’ imprisonment and young people aged 16 or 17 face a minimum sentence 4
month Detention and Training Order for second or subsequent knife possession or threatening
with a weapon in public offences. Courts can only depart from minimum sentencing if
it would be unjust to impose these terms.</p><p> </p><p>Where someone is actually
harmed by a knife or offensive weapon there are a range of other offences, such as
causing grievous bodily harm, that the person will be charged with. These can result
in lengthy sentences up to life imprisonment. For any offence, the possession, threatening
with or use of a weapon will be treated as an aggravating factor meriting an increased
sentence.</p><p> </p><p>Since minimum custodial penalties were introduced, people
caught carrying a knife or offensive weapon for a second time are now more likely
than ever before to go to prison – 83% of offenders received a custodial sentence
for repeat possession offences. The average immediate custody sentence length in the
year ending September 2018 was 7.9 months.</p>
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