TORY SPLIT ON KNIFE CRIME COMES INTO FOCUS - ‘JUST WHAT IS THEIR POSITION?’

TORY SPLIT ON KNIFE CRIME COMES INTO FOCUS - ‘JUST WHAT IS THEIR POSITION?’

SENTENCING COUNCIL WILL DELIVER TOUGH SENTENCES THAT FIT THE CRIME

The Tory position on sentencing for knife crime is in disarray following contradictory statements by their justice spokesman in the Scottish Parliament Bill Aitken and their new recruit from Labour, Paul McBride, who has been named as a possible Advocate General for Scotland if the Tories win the next general election.

Whilst Bill Aitken has been saying that he supports a mandatory minimum jail term for carrying a knife Paul McBride has said there should only be a presumption.

Commenting Stewart Maxwell MSP - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee - said:

“For weeks, if not months, the Tories have been presenting their policy as mandatory sentences for knife crime. But their new recruit, who they have been parading as a possible Advocate General for Scotland, has totally contradicted that policy by saying there should be a presumption.

“Contrary to Bill Aitken’s claim Paul McBride has said the policy would not be mandatory but a 'presumption'. This is not the impression that the Tories have being giving to anti-knife campaigners.

“So what is their position? It is not clear and the contradiction has to be answered.

"It’s patently clear that areas of Scotland are blighted by violence and that's why the Scottish Government is already taking the tough action needed on those who carry and use knives by doing more than ever before.

"Jail terms for knife carrying have already increased by a third and Courts have been given powers recently to impose four year sentences just for carrying a knife.

“And our proposed Sentencing Council can take a considered look at sentencing for knife offences - taking into account the views of the public, victims, and police.

“Sentencing guidelines will help deliver more consistent and transparent sentencing which will help inform judges of the views of the public and victims.

“In contrast, the Tories are all over the place and standing against proper sentencing guidelines across the board to ensure that the punishment fits the crime. We want to give victims and police a voice to ensure that the punishment always fits the crime.

“It is the Tories who are against that tough approach and Paul McBride has now left them having to defend their own self-styled soft-touch approach to sentencing.”