Knife crime laws do not go far enough, junior minister at Department of Justice says

Fine Gael Justice Minister Helen McEntee with Minister of State James Browne speaking after bringing recommendations to increase penalties for knife crime, to Cabinet on Tuesday. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Some changes to the laws around knife crime do not go far enough, the junior minister at the Department of Justice has said.

James Browne spoke alongside his Fine Gael senior minister Helen McEntee, as the pair launched new punishments for some knife crimes. 

Ms McEntee said the moves would protect young people and ensure the "small and incremental" problem of knife crime would be tackled.

Mr Browne, who chaired the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum that led to the changes, said while he was happy with the sentencing guidelines, some recommendations did not go far enough.

"I have made other recommendations I would like to see implemented. Firstly, we're one of the very few countries in the Western world that does not have an age limit on the purchase of knives. I think an age limit needs to be brought in respect of these and I've made that recommendation previously. 

"Also in relation to the banning of particular knives, there's a list in the legislation, but it's hard and fast. What I'd like to see is an amendment allowing the minister by way of statutory instrument to add knives as they arise. 

For example, zombie knives are a huge issue in UK, they're not an issue here. But if they ever were to, that we could move very quickly.

The Justice Minister denied making a "u-turn" on knife crime. 

Fianna Fáil's Jim O'Callaghan said the measures fell short of a bill he had proposed, but Mr Browne said Mr O'Callaghan's bill could be restarted quickly.

Ms McEntee said Ireland had seen a "small and incremental problem" with knives in Ireland and it was important to ensure it did not become worse. Ms McEntee said "there is a difference between carrying a knife and carrying with intent".

"The current maximum sentence for serious offences — possession of a knife with intent to unlawfully cause injury, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person — do not appear to be proportionate when compared with simple possession of a knife, and yet they carry the same maximum sentence of five years.

“That is why we are changing the maximum penalty for these serious knife crime offences, clearly targeting persons who have a willingness and intent to use knives, to a seven-year maximum sentence. 

"We are also increasing the penalty for importing and selling knives and such weapons from seven to 10 years."

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Ms McEntee also outlined a number of changes to strengthen Asbos (anti-social behaviour orders) also recommended by the Anti Social Behaviour Forum, including making them easier to issue.

Mr Browne said a knife amnesty was not considered.

"Experience in other countries shows that there is very little benefit to a knife amnesty for a simple reason — they are so easy to obtain. 

In other countries they collect a large amount of knives but that has very little or no impact on actual knife crime because if you go back to our kitchen, get another knife."