Two families left devastated by knife crime have backed tough new guidelines for sentencing businesses convicted of selling blades to children.
Young mum Samantha Madgin was stabbed to death in Wallsend in 2007 and teenager Connor Brown’s life was tragically cut short on a night out in Sunderland city centre in 2019. Their families set up charities in their names; Samantha’s Legacy and The Connor Brown Trust, to help raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and to offer support to other victims of such crimes.
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And now they have lent their support to Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, as she calls for "shops cashing in on teenage knife crime to face hefty fines." Her comments have been made as part of a national consultation on the sentencing for the offence of the sale of knives to people under the age of 18.
The Sentencing Council says there are currently no sentencing guidelines for this offence for individuals or organisations. The offence of selling knives to those under the age of 18 is prosecuted by Trading Standards departments within local authorities.
However, under draft sentencing guidelines put forward during the consultation, organisations and individuals convicted of selling knives to children could face hefty fines.
Ms McGuinness said: “The very idea that some young people, up and down the country, are choosing to arm themselves with knives is a concern to us all. It’s only right that we focus efforts on who is selling them and how this is being punished.
"How are blades ending up in the hands of children? Retailers must recognise their responsibility to help keep communities safe and the role they can play in taking knives and other weapons off our streets."
She continued: "Education plays such a crucial part in the fight against serious violence and the sale of these knives needs to also be a national priority. Clear guidance and tough punishments are much needed, particularly for larger retailers as evidence shows that it is these larger organisations who have been responsible for most sales.
"And so, I’ve welcomed the opportunity to respond to this consultation on behalf of the North East. We’re one of the safest regions.
"And, thankfully, we have lower levels of knife crime than many comparative areas. But we have had our share of horrific cases - tragic reminders that knife crime is real and that we must do everything we can to fight this crime.”
Connor Brown’s mum Tanya Brown urged shops to think carefully about whether they need to sell knives.
"We need everyone to be aware of the dangers of young people carrying knives, so we need to address the sale of knives to these young people," she said.
"Our message to all retailers is to think carefully as to whether you need to stock knives in general and who will be purchasing these knives, as well as what measures are in place to ensure knives are sold responsibly. Our youth today is our future tomorrow and we need to protect them.”
Backing the call for tougher sentences, Samantha Madgin's mum Alison Madgin, added: “It is not just about the age of those buying the knives but also identifying the people that could cause harm to others. We hope to see an increase in this law and see more support around this.
"Together we can all make a difference and help support this knife crime pandemic and ultimately save lives.”
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