Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, raised the issue of ‘soft sentencing’ for knife-crime offences in Parliament, with Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins MP.
Neil said, “In 2015 we legislated for a minimum jail sentence for repeat offenders who carry a knife, and yet more than a third of offenders are still being spared jail, which was more than 500 last year.
I asked the Minister why this was the case and what we could do to review the situation and ensure the law was enforced. I also pushed for greater clarity and honesty in sentencing, to bring the soft sentencing culture to an end.
In her response, the Minister acknowledged that mandatory minimum sentences are not universally accepted, which is something I will continue to press for on behalf of constituents and people across the country who would like tougher action against knife-carriers.”
