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Fatal stabbings hit peak - Tories Five stab deaths a week - Tories
(about 1 hour later)
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. They say police figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 277 stabbing deaths in 2007-8.
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. If confirmed they would be the highest since records began in 1977. Ministers say overall violent crime is falling.
The government disputed the claim and said overall violent crime was falling. The government is announcing plans to make unemployed people caught carrying knives do at least 18 hours' community work a week and face curfews.
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 Broken bottles
They showed stabbing murders in London rose by a quarter, up from 68 in 2006-7 to 86 last year.
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. I think this information is very disturbing because it's at an all-time high in terms of the people who have lost their lives James BrokenshireShadow home affairs minister class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7777963.stm">Mapping UK's teen murder toll
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." Shadow home affairs minister James Brokenshire told BBC Radio Five Live: "When you consider that, on these figures, 277 people lost their lives through stabbing incidents - I don't think you can really consider it as a minor event."
'Loss of liberty' Community sentences
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 added: "I think this information is very disturbing because it's at an all time high in terms of the people who have lost their lives and certainly with the government trying to rush out information just a few weeks ago. I think it perhaps put that into context."
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. Earlier this month Home Secretary Jacqui Smith apologised for using unofficial statistics to suggest the number of hospital admissions with stab wounds had dropped significantly.
"But the government also wants to see tougher and more effective community-based sentences for those the courts choose not to send to jail." BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the government wanted to get on the front foot politically, on knife crime.
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 The government is announcing that from 5 January courts will be given the power to hand out tougher community sentences for possession of a knife.
"This means a significant loss of liberty and free time for all those unemployed knife offenders across the whole of England and Wales." It says that while jail would sometimes be the best option, it wanted tougher and more effective community-based sentences for those who were not jailed.
In response, the Conservatives have called for an automatic presumption of a jail sentence for those who carry sharp weapons. Justice minister Bridget Prentice told the BBC the new measures were aimed at unemployed people who were convicted of carrying a knife.
Shadow home affairs minister James Brokenshire said knife crime was "a scourge which claims too many lives and ruins countless others". "They will be expected to do at least 18 hours of work a week - that's the equivalent of three days," she 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. "They will also possibly be subject to a curfew, they will also be expected to attend appointments with their probation officer and they may also be expected to go on a programme that will divert them from the idea of carrying knives."
"Combating knife crime requires concerted action in the long and short term, not just spin. She said the point was to give courts a variety of options to decide which was the most appropriate. But the Conservatives say there should be an automatic presumption of a jail sentence for those who carry sharp weapons.
"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. Mr Brokenshire said only "tough messages" would stop people carrying knives in public.
"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.
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:
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