Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the length of sentences for knife-related offences.

Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of individuals, families and communities. I welcome the consultation published by the Home Office this week which contains proposals to tackle the use of machetes and other bladed articles in crime.

While sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, this Government introduced measures through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to ensure that, when sentencing for threat with or repeat possession of a knife, the courts must pass at least the minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Since 2010, the average custodial sentence length for knife possession has increased by almost 20%.