New sentancing laws for violent crime
BBC -Sept 2020 -Serious criminals to serve more time in prison in justice shake-up
Violent offenders will now serve at least two-thirds of jail terms, rather than half, as part of changes to the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
An overhaul of sentencing laws has been announced by the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.
Whole-life orders will also be extended to 18 to 20-year-olds convicted of terrorism causing mass loss of life.
Mr Buckland said it marked the end of "complex and confusing" laws.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Buckland said the measures would "keep offenders who pose a risk to the public off our streets for longer".
He said they would "help restore public confidence that robust sentences are executed in a way that better reflects the gravity of the crimes committed".
Mr Buckland also said protecting the public meant "finding new ways to break cycles of crime, to prevent a revolving door of short custodial sentences that we know offer little rehabilitative value".
More help is being promised for those with mental health issues, addictions and neurodiverse conditions such as autism.
It comes after the criminal justice system ground to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic.
There are steep backlogs and delays for victims and defendants, who are facing trial dates years ahead.
Among the new interventions proposed in a White Paper published on Wednesday are:
- the option of a new whole life tariff for killers under the age of 21
- whole life orders for adults who murder children - which was a pledge by the Conservatives at last year's general election.
- raising the sentencing threshold for serious offences including a "third strike" for burglaries and "two strikes" for knife possession
- new powers to halt the automatic release of offenders who pose a terrorist threat or are a danger to the public
- reducing the opportunities for over-18s who committed murder as a child to have their minimum jail term reviewed
- using GPS tags to track burglars, robbers and thieves when they are released from prison
- deploying so-called "sobriety tags" to tackle alcohol-related crime
And offenders sentenced to between four and seven years in prison for serious crimes such as rape and manslaughter will no longer be automatically considered for release halfway through their jail terms.
HMP Prison service
Knife stats
Knife crime in Hertfordshire has increased, according to new figures.
According to data from Hertfordshire Youth Justice, 15 young people were charged with possession of an offensive weapon in 2017-18. One of those offences involved a firearm.
And 13 of those young people – but not the one charged with possession of a firearm – lived within the county.
The figures – highlighted in a written answer by Cllr Teresa Heritage, who is executive member for children, young people and families at Hertfordshire County Council – are slightly higher than the 11 young people charged with the same offence in 2016-17.
Cllr Heritage believes preventative measures could still be effective in the county.
“The number of first time entrants to the youth justice system in Hertfordshire remains fairly stable and numbers are low but offenders are more challenging and complex,” she says.
“Because a relatively small number of offenders commit the majority of crime and serious violence there is greater potential benefit to preventative intervention.”
Cllr Heritage said Hertfordshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable has commissioned a serious violent crime needs assessment for the county. It will look at what is influencing attitudes among young people and look at responses that could prevent then from carrying knives and weapons.
And this will provide the evidence to inform strategic planning for the prevention of serious crime in the county.
A full report of knife crime and the county’s response to it is expected to be considered by the Council’s Children, Young People and Families Cabinet Panel.
Meanwhile, ongoing work – reports Cllr Heritage – already includes early intervention projects by YC Hertfordshire, training for professionals and resources for schools.
UK knife crime epidemic spreads to home counties
STARTLING figures have revealed people are now more likely to be stabbed in Bedfordshire than Manchester.
Experts believe Britain's knife crime epidemic has spread to the Home Counties because city gangs have expanded their territories.
Knife crime in London has soared by 20 percent over the last three years, according to Sunday Times analysis.
But stabbings in Hertfordshire, Hampshire and Warwickshire have surged by more than 100 per cent.
Incidents in Hertfordshire have increased 150 per cent from 229 incidents in 2014 to 573 in 2017. In Norfolk, attacks have increased 283 per cent in Norfolk.
Vince O'Brien, head of drugs operation at the National Crime Agency told the newspaper: "There is an increasing level of violence coming from city gangs establishing themselves in new drugs markets in rural areas. "Counties which surround London are being affected."
A new Home Office report linked the increase in violence with "county lines" drug dealing.
City gangs have driven out local dealers with extreme violence, in a bid to sell drugs directly to users.
Counties overview of % increase in Knife crime.