Mandatory knife jail terms backed, page 3

reply to post by Retseh

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Yes Detroit is bad specially in wrong area, I was working down there in daytime, guy came up and told me I was in wrong part of town. Then my guys were laughing at me when I made them all get down, when the automatic gun fire started up. But heck if one of them got shot in head my workers comp would go up.
But in Detroit you can go to ball game and get shot killed, if have nice car get car jacked.
I don't drink but when I did you would not catch me in bar.
But then again was in Florida, went in nice Holiday Inn hot spot, had on nice sport coat all slicked up, just went for one or two drinks.
Got set up by bouncers, they said I was drunk, had one drink, but did trip just a bit on rise in carpet, I said let me talk to manager, those guys jumped me, not to say what happened but once we got outside they got the worst end of deal. They wouldn't leave me alone once outside.
When the cops came I said arrest that guy that guy and that guy for assalt, they wouldn't arrest them and drove me down to my car, end of story. Only thing if cops had not come would have probablily got shot I was alone and not watching my back.

From an older post www.abovetopsecret.com...

First gun control next KNIFE control ?

Due to the rash of knifing s in the UK they are introducing new measures to combat this threat !

Since people must be protected from this new scourge . The government will institute new regulations to protect our citizens from others or them selves .
All pocket knives can not have a blade longer than 5 cm and must be as dull as a butter knife .
And all butter knives must be firmly attached to the dinning room table to prevent removal from table and used to stab some one .
All steak knives must also be firmly attached to the dinning room table also .
The table attaching device must be no longer than 30cm .
All food preparation knives cleavers choppers or other sharp kitchen utensils must be registered with the local police department .
The licenses for sharp kitchen tools is only available after a thorough background check and a intensive training course for the proper use to kitchen tools .
All knives choppers cleavers ice picks or other sharp pointed object that can be used to damage another human being must be stored with a locking bladed cover to prevent accidental injury or unauthorized use .
While kitchen tools are in use they must be firmly attached to the kitchen counter . This attachment must be no longer than 60 cm long and be a uncut able material like cable or small chain with eyelets for the sharp object use lock .

heavy on the sarcasm !


[edit on 12-1-2009 by Lostinthedarkness]

...over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of people sentenced for carrying a knife. In 1996, 890 people were sentenced for possession of a knife in a public place. In 2006 the total was 6,284. In the same period the number of those under the age of 18 sentenced went from 114 in 1996 to 1,226 in 2006.

Amid growing public concern, the government took the step in February 2007 of increasing the maximum sentence for carrying a knife from two years to four.

BBC Source

For many years the UK has played a numbers game when it comes to sentencing. If you were sentenced to a term of 5 years and under, you would serve only half the time. The only way to serve more than half would be through other offences committed whilst inside. The 2003 Criminal Justice Act changed it again.

Since then, admitting guilt would get the standard automatic reduction of 33%. The 2003 Criminal Justice Act would then take another 33% off. The mandatory 4-6 year jail term suggested by the UK Government is all smoke and mirrors to appease the tabloid media and it's public. 6 years becomes 2 before the knife carrying juvenile problem even walks through the gates of the prison. Add good behaviour and the current 18 day deduction due to over-populated prisons and the deterrent has no teeth.

A serving detective runs a blog and says this...

Fines? Fines? Paid off with a nominal benefits reduction or weighed off for a day in police cells. Community Service, see the above regarding the attitudes of those serving them. Asset confiscation? Failing in trumps. Right now, prison is an option that takes bad people out of the population but even this is being diluted with it being very hard to get time served of over 5 years no matter how bad you are. Cough the job when your bang to rights for the first 33% off and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will lop off another 33% for you without your brief having to utter a word.

Source: Nightjack Blog

The kids that are carrying the knives and especially the ones that use them are'nt isolated entities. They come from communities within communities. They know that the chances of being caught by the Police is small. They know that the chances of the Criminal Prosecution Service taking them to Court is minimal. On top of that, they know that sentencing will rarely be custodial. If it is, it'll be short. They know this because they have friends and family that are in and out of prison.

I think the Criminal Justice Act needs to be overhauled so that a 4 year sentence means 4 years. Good behaviour has to be considered because it reinforces the supposed rehabilitation aspects of prison, but not to the extent that you serve a third. It's laughable.

I work with these kids. They are often excluded from mainstream education or just don't attend. They have broken families with pretty poor examples of responsibility. There's rarely a wage-earner in the family. It's all welfare, social services, alcohol and weed. Coke is going at £20 a gram, pills (X, Es etc) are £1-2. They aren't all bad people, but their actions can be.

Lock up the ones that are a danger to society and make sure the sentence is meaningful. The biggest thing, in my eyes, is to do something constructive to reduce the underclass of England. It's a growing problem that won't go away by locking them all up. It's far more complex than a mandatory jail term

[edit on 12-1-2009 by Kandinsky]

Originally posted by googolplex
Someone should start business in UK selling Kevlar t-shirts and underwear, could made a killing and prevent some at same time.

Kevlar wont do anything against a stabbing but I recall more than one story from the beginning of the school year about parents frantically buying up "stab-proof" backpacks and other protection for their children. Encouraged by some high school football star being stabbed for his shoes or some such nonsense.

British buying stab-proof uniforms

School uniforms made slash-proof

Just a suggestion but... with a little tweeking this could apply to the stabby idiots running amuck awash in booze among the neutered law-enforcement.

reply to post by cbxer55

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You CAN defend your home...with reasonable force. If a 15 year old breaks in unarmed to steal some jewellery, it wont be accepted if you stab him with your kitchen knife....but if somebody breaks in with a knife, and tries to harm you...you can stab them back.

Reasonable force... It's very easy to defend yourself in your house.


As for those on the street, why do you need to carry around a blade over 4 inches really, other that activities like fishing and camping...where you will likely be let off anyway. If you have a reason, you should be okay...


Guns ARE fairly easy to obtain, but not as easily as people make it out to be...if it was really as easy as some say, there would be more guns.

reply to post by cautiouslypessimistic

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Why would I want to seriously hurt another person who means no actual physical harm to myself? Someone breaks into my house thinking there is nobody in...I catch him and he tries to run, he doesn't want to hurt me....I am going to stop him, but why do I need to hurt him.


If however he comes at me with any sort of weapon, I will do the same to him...the banning of larger knives limits one of the most common weapons he will use.

Originally posted by StevenDye
reply to post by cautiouslypessimistic

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Why would I want to seriously hurt another person who means no actual physical harm to myself? Someone breaks into my house thinking there is nobody in...I catch him and he tries to run, he doesn't want to hurt me....I am going to stop him, but why do I need to hurt him.


If however he comes at me with any sort of weapon, I will do the same to him...the banning of larger knives limits one of the most common weapons he will use.

Also, the banning of large knives just means he will be carrying a kitchen knife, not a hunting one.

Originally posted by StevenDye
reply to post by cautiouslypessimistic

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Why would I want to seriously hurt another person who means no actual physical harm to myself? Someone breaks into my house thinking there is nobody in...I catch him and he tries to run, he doesn't want to hurt me....I am going to stop him, but why do I need to hurt him.


If however he comes at me with any sort of weapon, I will do the same to him...the banning of larger knives limits one of the most common weapons he will use.

How do you know the criminal has a weapon until you give him the opportunity to use it... and it may be to late once that happens. Why do you think the criminals have no fear.. what's the conviction rate 5% or less...

Crazy.... If someone comes in my door or window in the middle of the night I WILL NOT chance my family's safety on hoping the guy doesn't have a gun or other weapon.... I seriously do not understand the thought process here.

If your criminals knew that they are risking their LIFE when committing home invasion or burglary your crime rate would plunge dramatically.

Hell, why not do crime there.... the people are in fear of being prosecuted or using "excessive force" in their own damned homes and the criminals have little to no fear..... so a 70 year old guy cannot shoot a 20 year old buffed out thug because it is excessive force? Nuts... so the old guy can hope he doesn't get his neck snapped because using a weapon to defend himself against an unarmed opponent will land you in prison?

Guys, that is moronic in my opinion... your home is your castle and you should have the right to feel safe in it.... and you would if you were allowed to defend yourselves.

And this ""the banning of larger knives limits one of the most common weapons he will use''

Do you think criminals follow the Law... are you daft man? They are criminals.

[edit on 12-1-2009 by infolurker]

reply to post by infolurker

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Dont you know if somebody breaks in to your home you should ask them what weapons they have to you dont use unreasonable force. Also, if theyre smaller than you you should keep one arm behind your back in case of a tussle.

If they just want to steal something and cause you no physical harm you should show them where the item is and, if large or heavy, help them remove it from your home ledt they injure themselves and sue you.

When the hell did this "bend over" culture become the accepted norm?

Dont forget to leave your shed's unlocked. That gem was suggested by the authorities over there. If the door is locked after all the crook might get mad and smash a window.

When did the collective testicles of the UK ascend up into the pelvis?

Just be loud enough, drunk enough and carry a knife and the island makes you king.

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