Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to work with the Crown Prosecution Service, other Government departments and the police to improve the prosecution rate for the use of knives in Southwark.

The Home Office works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, other Government departments and the police to tackle knife crime and we have taken action to make sure that offenders are dealt with effectively.

On 17 July 2015, a new minimum custodial sentence of at least six months for adults and a detention and training order of at least four months for 16 and 17 years old, for anyone caught in possession of a knife for a second time came into force. This sends a strong message that those caught with a knife for a second time should expect a prison sentence.

We are encouraging police forces to undertake a series of coordinated weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre, which involves targeting habitual knife carriers, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers, and use of surrender bins. The next Operation Sceptre will take place in the week of 17 October, with 25 police forces taking part.