Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Knife Amnesty - Waste of Time?
The Times reports here on a report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King’s College London.
Apparently, knife crime has risen dramatically, by 73% for “use” in muggings (unfortunately not by the intended victim on the mugger). Apparently there has also been an increase of 55%, in random attacks with knives on strangers.
The report says: “There is insufficient evidence that a knife amnesty or increasing sentence length for carrying knives will decrease the level of knife use and carrying.” These words are I think disingenuous as because firstly I don’t see how they’d have had time to factor in the results from the present knife amnesty, that being said, they are probably right (regarding the knife amnesty) see here for one of my posts reporting on a local increase in knife crime, observed AFTER the knife amnesty.
As regarding increased sentencing, well it’s never been tried, and it’s no good merely the judge giving a long sentence, the criminal must serve the amount of time the judge says in the sentence. No parole or time off for good behaviour, these aren’t choirboys and they need to learn that good behaviour is the norm. No rather than time off for good behaviour, you get time added on for bad behaviour. Those that don’t learn the lesson will never get out to re-offend. The Times tells us that Chris Eades the author of the report thinks the view that increased sentence has a deterrent effect is “implausible”, which suggests to me it isn’t an aspect he wishes to “research” so has merely given us his view. Maybe he supports the Howard League for the abolition of punishment.
Strangely (but not unsurprisingly), the centre doesn’t consider the effect the re-introduction of corporal punishment might have on those carrying knives, but then there never really has been any "research" into it.
UPDATE: Just spotted this story on the local "news"paper website here another local story involving knives. I'm sure things have got worse since the amnesty.
Apparently, knife crime has risen dramatically, by 73% for “use” in muggings (unfortunately not by the intended victim on the mugger). Apparently there has also been an increase of 55%, in random attacks with knives on strangers.
The report says: “There is insufficient evidence that a knife amnesty or increasing sentence length for carrying knives will decrease the level of knife use and carrying.” These words are I think disingenuous as because firstly I don’t see how they’d have had time to factor in the results from the present knife amnesty, that being said, they are probably right (regarding the knife amnesty) see here for one of my posts reporting on a local increase in knife crime, observed AFTER the knife amnesty.
As regarding increased sentencing, well it’s never been tried, and it’s no good merely the judge giving a long sentence, the criminal must serve the amount of time the judge says in the sentence. No parole or time off for good behaviour, these aren’t choirboys and they need to learn that good behaviour is the norm. No rather than time off for good behaviour, you get time added on for bad behaviour. Those that don’t learn the lesson will never get out to re-offend. The Times tells us that Chris Eades the author of the report thinks the view that increased sentence has a deterrent effect is “implausible”, which suggests to me it isn’t an aspect he wishes to “research” so has merely given us his view. Maybe he supports the Howard League for the abolition of punishment.
Strangely (but not unsurprisingly), the centre doesn’t consider the effect the re-introduction of corporal punishment might have on those carrying knives, but then there never really has been any "research" into it.
UPDATE: Just spotted this story on the local "news"paper website here another local story involving knives. I'm sure things have got worse since the amnesty.
