The Knife Crime Prevention Order pilot scheme is underway in London in a bid to prevent young people from carrying knives and becoming heavily embroiled in serious violence.
The Knife Crime Prevention Order pilot will be trialled by the Metropolitan Police Service for the next 14 months before being rolled out to more police forces throughout England and Wales.
The aim is to stop a small but high-risk group of individuals from causing immediate harm to others and support earlier interventions to turn young people away from a life of crime and protect them from potential exploitation from criminal gangs.
Police will apply to the courts for the orders, which can be imposed on individuals as young as 12 years of age, whom police have reason to believe are carrying knives or those who have been previously convicted of a knife related offence.
The orders can be used to place a variety of restrictions on an individual, including their use of social media, travel outside geographical boundaries and of course explicitly banning them from carrying a knife.
They can be in place for a maximum of two years and must be reviewed by the courts after 12 months, with those given to under18’s to be reviewed more frequently.
Courts can also prescribe a positive intervention, such as educational courses, sports club referrals, relationship counselling, anger management, mentoring and drug rehabilitation.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “One of the hardest parts of my job as Home Secretary is seeing families ripped apart by the horror of knife crime.
“Knife Crime Prevention Orders will crack down on those carrying weapons while at the same time intervening to steer them away from a life of violence.”
Here at Knightsbridge Solicitors, our experts have built up a reputation as one of the leading criminal defence firms.
For help and advice with any aspect of criminal law contact a member of our expert team today on 0115 824 1700 for a discussion on your individual situation.