Despite promising a mandatory ‘two strikes and you’re out’ minimum six-month prison sentence for carrying a knife, new figures from Ministry of Justice reveal that more than 2,000 people with one or more convictions for knife possession escaped an automatic prison sentence.

In response, Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon, said:

“The Tories are letting down the victims of crime by making promises they know they cannot keep.

“Knife crime is on the rise and the public want to be confident that people carrying knives face tough sentences.

“Ministers promised ‘two-strikes-and-you’re-out’ for knife possession, but a third of adult repeat offenders are still not being sent to prison.

“Rather than warm words and empty promises, the Tories need to make sure those who carry these weapons are properly punished.”