Menu
06/04/2007
New measures to tackle violent crime introduced
New measures aimed at tackling gun and knife crime have come into force.
Under the new measures, part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, it is now an offence to use someone to hide or carry a weapon, with a maximum sentence of four years in the case of knives and ten years in the case of guns.
The range of offences for which an offender can be given a mandatory minimum five-year sentence is also being extended. Until now, the minimum sentence only applied to the offence of simply possessing a prohibited firearm, but it will now apply to a wider range of possession offences, including possession of a firearm with intent to injure; possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence; use of a firearm to resist arrest; carrying a firearm with criminal intent; carrying a firearm in a public place; and trespassing in a building with a firearm.
It is now also an offence to buy or sell a primer - a key component of ammunition - unless legal requirements are met.
The Act also contains measures covering anti-social alcohol drinking, mobile phone theft and football hooliganism.
Police and trading standards officers will have new powers to penalise licensed premises that sell alcohol to under-eighteens. If a venue is found to have sold alcohol to minors three times within a three-month period they will now face suspension of their license for three months, along with a fine of up to £10,000.
Regarding mobile phones, it is now an offence to re-programme or "unblock" a mobile phone with offenders facing up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine.
Two football banning orders, which were due to expire in August, have also been made permanent.
The orders allow police to require known troublemakers to surrender their passports five days prior to an overseas match or tournament.
The maximum period of a banning order will also be increased from three to five years and powers to apply for banning orders have also been extended to the Crown Prosecution Service and the British Transport Police.
Police will also be able to make the case for a banning order based on complaint (such as using overseas police footage of misbehaviour as evidence) rather than just conviction of a football-related offence.
Ticket touting laws have also been extended to cover the sale of unauthorised football match tickets on the internet, which carries a maximum fine of £5,000.
It is also now illegal to advertise the unauthorised sale of match tickets.
Commenting on the new measures, Home Secretary John Reid said: "The government's priority is to give police and communities the tools they need to tackle violent crime. These new powers will enable police to better tackle gun and knife crime as well as alcohol-related disorder.
"After listening to community concerns on knives and guns, I decided to bring forward the use of these measures as a matter of urgency. These new powers are the latest step, an example of how the government is working to make us all safer, putting the interests of ordinary people first."
(KMcA/JM)
Under the new measures, part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, it is now an offence to use someone to hide or carry a weapon, with a maximum sentence of four years in the case of knives and ten years in the case of guns.
The range of offences for which an offender can be given a mandatory minimum five-year sentence is also being extended. Until now, the minimum sentence only applied to the offence of simply possessing a prohibited firearm, but it will now apply to a wider range of possession offences, including possession of a firearm with intent to injure; possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence; use of a firearm to resist arrest; carrying a firearm with criminal intent; carrying a firearm in a public place; and trespassing in a building with a firearm.
It is now also an offence to buy or sell a primer - a key component of ammunition - unless legal requirements are met.
The Act also contains measures covering anti-social alcohol drinking, mobile phone theft and football hooliganism.
Police and trading standards officers will have new powers to penalise licensed premises that sell alcohol to under-eighteens. If a venue is found to have sold alcohol to minors three times within a three-month period they will now face suspension of their license for three months, along with a fine of up to £10,000.
Regarding mobile phones, it is now an offence to re-programme or "unblock" a mobile phone with offenders facing up to five years in jail and an unlimited fine.
Two football banning orders, which were due to expire in August, have also been made permanent.
The orders allow police to require known troublemakers to surrender their passports five days prior to an overseas match or tournament.
The maximum period of a banning order will also be increased from three to five years and powers to apply for banning orders have also been extended to the Crown Prosecution Service and the British Transport Police.
Police will also be able to make the case for a banning order based on complaint (such as using overseas police footage of misbehaviour as evidence) rather than just conviction of a football-related offence.
Ticket touting laws have also been extended to cover the sale of unauthorised football match tickets on the internet, which carries a maximum fine of £5,000.
It is also now illegal to advertise the unauthorised sale of match tickets.
Commenting on the new measures, Home Secretary John Reid said: "The government's priority is to give police and communities the tools they need to tackle violent crime. These new powers will enable police to better tackle gun and knife crime as well as alcohol-related disorder.
"After listening to community concerns on knives and guns, I decided to bring forward the use of these measures as a matter of urgency. These new powers are the latest step, an example of how the government is working to make us all safer, putting the interests of ordinary people first."
(KMcA/JM)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
12 November 2014
Release Of Police Killer Described As 'Sickening'
The release of a man convicted of killing three unarmed police officers in 1966 has been described as "sickening". Harry Roberts, now aged 78, has been released from prison after serving 48 years for 1966 murders of three unarmed police officers in Shepherd's Bush in west London.
Release Of Police Killer Described As 'Sickening'
The release of a man convicted of killing three unarmed police officers in 1966 has been described as "sickening". Harry Roberts, now aged 78, has been released from prison after serving 48 years for 1966 murders of three unarmed police officers in Shepherd's Bush in west London.
29 August 2014
Major Police Hunt Launched After Boy Taken From Hospital
A major police hunt has begun after a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour, was taken by his family without consent from Southampton General Hospital. Police said that Ashya King was taken from the hospital by Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, on Thursday. It is thought he may have been taken to France.
Major Police Hunt Launched After Boy Taken From Hospital
A major police hunt has begun after a five-year-old boy with a brain tumour, was taken by his family without consent from Southampton General Hospital. Police said that Ashya King was taken from the hospital by Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, on Thursday. It is thought he may have been taken to France.
07 May 2014
'Skull Cracker' In Custody In London
Kent Police, in partnership with officers from the Metropolitan Police Service, have arrested two men in East London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. On 3 May, Kent Police began a search for Michael Wheatley, 55, who had failed to return to HMP Standford Hill after being released on temporary licence.
'Skull Cracker' In Custody In London
Kent Police, in partnership with officers from the Metropolitan Police Service, have arrested two men in East London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. On 3 May, Kent Police began a search for Michael Wheatley, 55, who had failed to return to HMP Standford Hill after being released on temporary licence.
11 June 2013
Riot Police Deployed As G8 Protesters Occupy Former Police Station
Some 100 riot police have been deployed in central London as protestors take to the streets to demonstrate ahead on the G8 summit being held in Northern Ireland next week. Officers were sent to Soho, where protesters are thought to have occupied a former police station on Beak Street.
Riot Police Deployed As G8 Protesters Occupy Former Police Station
Some 100 riot police have been deployed in central London as protestors take to the streets to demonstrate ahead on the G8 summit being held in Northern Ireland next week. Officers were sent to Soho, where protesters are thought to have occupied a former police station on Beak Street.
07 February 2012
Great Expectations Of The MPU
Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of renowned English novelist Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870), widely considered the greatest of the Victorian period. London as Dickens knew it, reached his pages, not from his imagination, but from his observations.
Great Expectations Of The MPU
Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of renowned English novelist Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870), widely considered the greatest of the Victorian period. London as Dickens knew it, reached his pages, not from his imagination, but from his observations.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
