Longer sentences to be introduced for thugs who post knife crimes on social media
YOUNG knife criminals who film offences to post them on social media could face tougher punishments under new sentencing proposals.
Knife criminals who film offences to post them on social media could face tougher punishments
Offenders in a group or gang when carrying a blade could also be handed more severe penalties.
The scenarios are among a number of “aggravating factors” for judges and magistrates to take into account when sentencing defendants convicted of possessing a bladed article or offensive weapon in public, or of using one to make threats.
New draft guidelines are being published by the Sentencing Council to take into account a number of changes in the law and court judgements.
The proposals do not cover offences where a knife or other weapon is actually used to harm a victim, nor the use or possession of firearms.
This sort of behaviour is often used to embarrass or humiliate the victim
The guidelines list a number of possible aggravating factors which can be taken into account by judges and magistrates when weighing up sentences.
For youth offenders, these include “deliberate humiliation of victim, including but not limited to filming of the offence, deliberately committing the offence before a group of peers with the intent of causing additional distress or circulating details/photos/videos etc of the offence on social media or within peer groups”.
The council said this was included because it is “aware aware that through the use of social media, the recording and sharing of photographs and video footage has become increasingly common”, adding: “This sort of behaviour is often used to embarrass or humiliate the victim.”
Offenders in a group or gang when carrying a blade could also be handed more severe penalties
Such circumstances could also be taken into consideration in cases involving adults.
Other factors listed in the guidelines, which will now be subject to consultation, also include offenders being in a group or gang, attempting to hide their identity, or targeting victims due to a vulnerability.
Courts see a relatively high number of bladed article and offensive weapon cases, the consultation document said, with approximately 7,800 adult offenders sentenced for the offences in 2015.
Last year the government introduced a new “two strikes” regime meaning adults caught with a blade more than once face a minimum custodial sentence of six months.
SHOCKING MOMENT child is taught to fight with KNIFE
New draft guidelines are being published by the Sentencing Council
Courts should impose the minimum punishment unless there are particular circumstances that make doing so unjust.
Figures released last month showed that nearly half of repeat offenders avoided jail in nearly a year after the change took effect. Overall, the proportion of knife possession offenders sentenced to immediate custody is rising, while average prison terms have also gone up.
Under the draft proposals those convicted of offences involving knives or particularly dangerous weapons, as well as repeat offenders, will receive the highest sentences.