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| Mandatory knife jail terms backed | Mandatory knife jail terms backed |
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| Sixty-two per cent of people think that those caught carrying a knife in public should automatically go to jail, a poll conducted for the BBC suggests. | Sixty-two per cent of people think that those caught carrying a knife in public should automatically go to jail, a poll conducted for the BBC suggests. |
| A compulsory jail term was backed by 57% of 305 16-24-year-olds polled by the BBC's Panorama programme. More than 1,300 people were questioned. | |
| The maximum sentence for knife carrying was doubled in 2007 to four years - this is rarely handed down, however. | The maximum sentence for knife carrying was doubled in 2007 to four years - this is rarely handed down, however. |
| But young offenders in jail for knife attacks said this should be mandatory. | |
| The poll was carried out as part of research into Jailed for a Knife, a Panorama programme examining the causes of Britain's knife culture and how best to tackle it by speaking to those responsible - youngsters convicted of carrying, using, and even killing with a knife. | The poll was carried out as part of research into Jailed for a Knife, a Panorama programme examining the causes of Britain's knife culture and how best to tackle it by speaking to those responsible - youngsters convicted of carrying, using, and even killing with a knife. |
| Sharp increase | Sharp increase |
| Given rare access to the prisoners in their cells, Panorama interviewed five inmates in two young offenders institutions, three of whom had killed other young people with a knife and two of whom has committed grievous bodily harm (GBH). | Given rare access to the prisoners in their cells, Panorama interviewed five inmates in two young offenders institutions, three of whom had killed other young people with a knife and two of whom has committed grievous bodily harm (GBH). |
| Panorama spoke to convicted knife attackers in their cells | Panorama spoke to convicted knife attackers in their cells |
| Thirty four teenagers died as a result of knife attacks in the UK last year. | Thirty four teenagers died as a result of knife attacks in the UK last year. |
| And over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of people sentenced for carrying a knife. | And over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of people sentenced for carrying a knife. |
| In 1996, 890 people were sentenced for possession of a knife in a public place. In 2006 the total was 6,284. | In 1996, 890 people were sentenced for possession of a knife in a public place. In 2006 the total was 6,284. |
| In the same period the number of those under the age of 18 sentenced went from 114 in 1996 to 1,226 in 2006. | In the same period the number of those under the age of 18 sentenced went from 114 in 1996 to 1,226 in 2006. |
| Amid growing public concern, the government took the step in February 2007 of increasing the maximum sentence for carrying a knife from two years to four. | Amid growing public concern, the government took the step in February 2007 of increasing the maximum sentence for carrying a knife from two years to four. |
| And in June 2008 it introduced new measures under which anyone over the age of 16 found carrying a knife in public should expect to be prosecuted. | And in June 2008 it introduced new measures under which anyone over the age of 16 found carrying a knife in public should expect to be prosecuted. |
| First offence | First offence |
| However, the poll for Panorama suggests the majority of people think the law still does not go far enough. | However, the poll for Panorama suggests the majority of people think the law still does not go far enough. |
| Sixty-one per cent of those questioned disagreed when asked if the current law is enough to stop under 16s carrying a knife. In the 16-24 age bracket 59% disagreed. | Sixty-one per cent of those questioned disagreed when asked if the current law is enough to stop under 16s carrying a knife. In the 16-24 age bracket 59% disagreed. |
| Forty-three per cent of people polled for Panorama said that under 16s should automatically go to jail for their first offence. A similar proportion, 42%, of 16-24 year-olds questioned agreed. | Forty-three per cent of people polled for Panorama said that under 16s should automatically go to jail for their first offence. A similar proportion, 42%, of 16-24 year-olds questioned agreed. |
| The five young offenders whom Panorama interviewed in Jailed for a Knife told the programme that prior to being incarcerated they had not taken the threat of prosecution seriously. | The five young offenders whom Panorama interviewed in Jailed for a Knife told the programme that prior to being incarcerated they had not taken the threat of prosecution seriously. |
| "Never thought about it, you know, that's being truthful, I never even thought about that," one said. "Everyone thinks 'oh yeah, I can do this and I'll get away with it, it's gonna be nothing'." | "Never thought about it, you know, that's being truthful, I never even thought about that," one said. "Everyone thinks 'oh yeah, I can do this and I'll get away with it, it's gonna be nothing'." |
| Maximum sentence | Maximum sentence |
| The young offenders said that the best deterrent would be for custodial sentences to be automatic, and for the maximum penalty of four years to be rigorously applied. | The young offenders said that the best deterrent would be for custodial sentences to be automatic, and for the maximum penalty of four years to be rigorously applied. |
| "I've seen people come in and out of here three or four times since I've been in jail for a knife or GBH - 18 months," one offender said. | "I've seen people come in and out of here three or four times since I've been in jail for a knife or GBH - 18 months," one offender said. |
| "To be honest I agree with the people when I read the papers that sentences should be longer - it should be a sentence that's going to get through to them, not this in and out of jail business," he added. | "To be honest I agree with the people when I read the papers that sentences should be longer - it should be a sentence that's going to get through to them, not this in and out of jail business," he added. |
| However, a four-year sentence is only given in exceptional circumstances - in fact in 2007, the year the measure was introduced, only one person was given a sentence, for possession of an offensive weapon, which amounted to at least four years. | However, a four-year sentence is only given in exceptional circumstances - in fact in 2007, the year the measure was introduced, only one person was given a sentence, for possession of an offensive weapon, which amounted to at least four years. |
| How to prevent youngsters from carrying a knife in the first place has been the subject of a charged national debate. | How to prevent youngsters from carrying a knife in the first place has been the subject of a charged national debate. |
| The inmates Panorama spoke to said communicating more effectively with youngsters is an essential component. | The inmates Panorama spoke to said communicating more effectively with youngsters is an essential component. |
| Many of them said it was only the harsh reality of prison life which had forced them to consider the full consequences of their actions and there was a call for more youngsters to hear about such experiences first-hand before they too ended up in jail. | Many of them said it was only the harsh reality of prison life which had forced them to consider the full consequences of their actions and there was a call for more youngsters to hear about such experiences first-hand before they too ended up in jail. |
| This view was supported by the vast majority of those who took part in Panorama's poll. | This view was supported by the vast majority of those who took part in Panorama's poll. |
| Eight four per cent of people questioned said more young people should hear first-hand experiences of knife crime from reformed young offenders - support for such a measure rose to 90% among 16-24 year olds. | Eight four per cent of people questioned said more young people should hear first-hand experiences of knife crime from reformed young offenders - support for such a measure rose to 90% among 16-24 year olds. |
| Panorama: Jailed for Knife on BBC One, Monday, 12 January, 2009 at 8.30pm. | Panorama: Jailed for Knife on BBC One, Monday, 12 January, 2009 at 8.30pm. |