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Crime: Knives

Volume 703: debated on Tuesday 22 July 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What psychiatric and medical advice they sought and received before announcing that perpetrators of knife crime should visit their victims in hospital; what effects they expect such visits to have on victims; what is likely to be the added cost to the National Health Service of facilitating escorted visits; and whether such visits could contribute to hospital infection. [HL4887]

The knife referral project involves ensuring that young people who have been convicted of possession of a knife understand the risks and consquences of their actions. If they do not receive a custodial sentence, they will attend, as part of their community sentence, a weapons awareness programme and this may include discussions with A&E professionals and victims’ families.

There is no proposal that offenders who have committed violence involving knives should visit their victims in hospital.