Knife sale punishment 'too light'

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Shopkeepers who sell knives to children should expect to receive tougher penalties, the Conservatives have said.

People who let under-18s buy bladed weapons can face a penalty of up to £5,000 and six months in prison.

But figures obtained by the Tories show only one person was jailed in England and Wales between 1997 and 2007 and no-one was given the maximum fine.

The government has defended its record on knife crime and said courts made "the decisions in individual cases".

According to the Ministry of Justice data, revealed to the Tories in response to written parliamentary questions, only one shopkeeper was sent to prison - in 1997.

Since then, no-one has been either jailed or given a maximum fine.

'Tough action'

The figures show that in 2007, 32 people were sentenced, with the largest fine being £2,000.

There were 118 sentences passed between 2004 and 2007, compared with six in the period 1997 to 2000.

Shadow crime reduction minister James Brokenshire said: "It's shocking that so few people are getting punished by the courts for selling blades to kids.

We have given judges the tools they need to deliver justice Spokesman for the justice secretary

"Even when they do, they get fined a fraction of the £5,000 that could be given to them.

"Shopkeepers who are caught selling knives under-age should expect to receive a more significant punishment.

"On the basis of these figures the government simply isn't following through on its promises to get knives off our streets."

In October 2007, the minimum age for buying knives was raised from 16 to 18. This year the home secretary launched a campaign with major retailers to "stamp down" on knife sales to children.

A spokesman for Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the Tories were attacking the independence of the courts, which was "counter-productive".

"Labour believes it is right for Parliament to set the sentencing framework and we have given judges the tools they need to deliver justice," he said.

"They must be free to make the decisions in individual cases."

The spokesman added that data showed more people are going to jail for carrying knives and that they are getting longer sentences.