Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has warned that an ‘overloaded’ justice system is repeatedly bailing knife crime suspects due to prison overcrowding
Individuals suspected of serious crimes are being granted bail owing to prison overcrowding and a justice system under strain, according to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed that fewer defendants accused of knife crime are being held on remand, resulting in offenders facing repeated charges and bail for identical offences.
Stricter knife crime and firearms legislation has contributed to declining serious crime rates over the past 25 years, he noted.
However, an overburdened justice system seems to be undermining the effectiveness of these tougher laws.
“An overloaded justice system is not executing on the back of those laws in the same way, as the government has to make difficult choices based on prison capacity and other areas, and we’re now seeing the consequences of that,” said Sir Mark.
“We are seeing rapidly reducing imprisonment for people sentenced for knife crime offenses, knife crime possession, even repeat knife carriers, so that’s going down.
“That is then anticipated at the start of the process, so far fewer are being remanded in custody.
“So routinely now we’re seeing people charged again and again and again with carrying knives, and they’re being bailed again and again and again, and that really concerns me.”
Sir Mark cited the recent Notting Hill Carnival as an example, when someone attempted to bring what appeared to be a small sword – measuring approximately 18 inches in length – into the event. He noted that the incident was this individual’s fourth knife offence of the year.
“He tries to take something that looks like a small sword into carnival, and he’s been bailed again,” the Met Commissioner stated.
“That is deeply concerning to me, the message that sends, and that fundamentally undermines offender control.”
Sir Mark said that the force is witnessing identical patterns emerging with firearms-related offences.
“And I’m flabbergasted by this,” he added.
Approximately 34 individuals charged with firearms offences across the capital are currently on bail awaiting trial, nine of whom had discharged weapons during confrontations.
Sir Mark noted that just a few years ago, prior to the justice system facing its current pressures, this “just wouldn’t have happened”.
