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| Fatal stabbings hit peak - Tories | Fatal stabbings hit peak - Tories |
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| Fatal stabbings in England and Wales have risen to their highest level in three decades, say the Conservatives. | Fatal stabbings in England and Wales have risen to their highest level in three decades, say the Conservatives. |
| The unconfirmed claim comes as the government unveils tougher new community sentences for those convicted of carrying knives. | The unconfirmed claim comes as the government unveils tougher new community sentences for those convicted of carrying knives. |
| The Tories say police figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 277 stabbing deaths in 2007-8, the highest since records began in 1977. | The Tories say police figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 277 stabbing deaths in 2007-8, the highest since records began in 1977. |
| The government disputed the claim and said overall violent crime was falling. | The government disputed the claim and said overall violent crime was falling. |
| The Conservatives obtained the crime figures from all police forces in England and Wales, except Bedfordshire. | The Conservatives obtained the crime figures from all police forces in England and Wales, except Bedfordshire. |
| They showed stabbing murders in London rose by a quarter, up from 68 in 2006-7 to 86 last year. The government wants to see tougher and more effective community-based sentences for those the courts choose not to send to jail David Hanson, Justice Minister class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7777963.stm">Mapping UK's teen murder toll | |
| In both West Yorkshire and Northumbria fatal stabbings rose from 10 to 15 and in Lancashire deaths more than trebled from four in 2006-7 to 13 last year, according to the statistics. | In both West Yorkshire and Northumbria fatal stabbings rose from 10 to 15 and in Lancashire deaths more than trebled from four in 2006-7 to 13 last year, according to the statistics. |
| It is understood the figures may change before their official release in the new year if the police or the courts decide some homicides should be reclassified. | It is understood the figures may change before their official release in the new year if the police or the courts decide some homicides should be reclassified. |
| The Home Office said the data used by the Tories might overstate the problem of knife crime, as the figures related to sharp instruments, which could include broken bottles. | The Home Office said the data used by the Tories might overstate the problem of knife crime, as the figures related to sharp instruments, which could include broken bottles. |
| They also pointed out overall violent crime had fallen by a third in the past decade. | They also pointed out overall violent crime had fallen by a third in the past decade. |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "Rather than simply dispute the figures, politically the government wants to get on the front foot." | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "Rather than simply dispute the figures, politically the government wants to get on the front foot." |
| 'Loss of liberty' | 'Loss of liberty' |
| Justice Minister David Hanson will announce later that from 5 January courts will be given the power to hand out tougher community sentences for possession of a knife. | Justice Minister David Hanson will announce later that from 5 January courts will be given the power to hand out tougher community sentences for possession of a knife. |
| He is expected to say: "Where jail is the best option, I'll always make sure there are enough prison places and more people are now going to prison for knife-related crime. | He is expected to say: "Where jail is the best option, I'll always make sure there are enough prison places and more people are now going to prison for knife-related crime. |
| "But the government also wants to see tougher and more effective community-based sentences for those the courts choose not to send to jail." | "But the government also wants to see tougher and more effective community-based sentences for those the courts choose not to send to jail." |
| Offenders will now have to do at least 18 hours of community work a week and will be subject to curfews, he will add. Combating knife crime requires concerted action in the long and short term, not just spin James Brokenshire, shadow home affairs minister | Offenders will now have to do at least 18 hours of community work a week and will be subject to curfews, he will add. Combating knife crime requires concerted action in the long and short term, not just spin James Brokenshire, shadow home affairs minister |
| "This means a significant loss of liberty and free time for all those unemployed knife offenders across the whole of England and Wales." | "This means a significant loss of liberty and free time for all those unemployed knife offenders across the whole of England and Wales." |
| In response, the Conservatives have called for an automatic presumption of a jail sentence for those who carry sharp weapons. | In response, the Conservatives have called for an automatic presumption of a jail sentence for those who carry sharp weapons. |
| Shadow home affairs minister James Brokenshire said knife crime was "a scourge which claims too many lives and ruins countless others". | Shadow home affairs minister James Brokenshire said knife crime was "a scourge which claims too many lives and ruins countless others". |
| "The government's only response is short term, ad-hoc police operations, the results of which they spin and manipulate anyway to try and get a good story," he said. | "The government's only response is short term, ad-hoc police operations, the results of which they spin and manipulate anyway to try and get a good story," he said. |
| "Combating knife crime requires concerted action in the long and short term, not just spin. | "Combating knife crime requires concerted action in the long and short term, not just spin. |
| "As well as deploying our police onto the streets as the norm we would introduce an automatic presumption of jail for knife possession - this may be harsh but it is absolutely necessary. | "As well as deploying our police onto the streets as the norm we would introduce an automatic presumption of jail for knife possession - this may be harsh but it is absolutely necessary. |
| "We must also address the underlying causes of crime - like drugs, family breakdown and gang culture." | "We must also address the underlying causes of crime - like drugs, family breakdown and gang culture." |
| Government measures already introduced to tackle knife crime include doubling the maximum sentence for possessing an illegal knife to four years, increasing the use of "stop and search" tactics and raising the age at which you can be sold a knife to 18. | Government measures already introduced to tackle knife crime include doubling the maximum sentence for possessing an illegal knife to four years, increasing the use of "stop and search" tactics and raising the age at which you can be sold a knife to 18. |
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| Have you been affected by knife crime? Should the government introduce tougher community sentences for those convicted of carrying knives? Send us your comments using the form below: | Have you been affected by knife crime? Should the government introduce tougher community sentences for those convicted of carrying knives? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |