THE States police have vowed that perpetrators of knife crime will face the consequences of their actions, following the sentencing of a 37-year-old woman at the Royal Court.
Nilza Vieira was given a 240-hour community service order and put on probation for a year after lunging at a man with a kitchen knife, cutting his leg.
At her sentencing on Tuesday, Commissioner Alan Binnington said that “knife crime will be dealt with very seriously, even when no injury is caused”.
The police insist that knife crime remains rare in Jersey, but investigating officer Detective Constable Charles Vibert said: “Crimes such as these should never be tolerated, and we will do everything in our power to see offenders face justice.”
The victim was not seriously injured in the incident and did not wish to support a prosecution, but DC Vibert said: “The use of a knife in this assault escalates the seriousness of the offence and it is right that Vieira has faced the consequences of her actions on that night.”
A tougher approach to knife crime has been enshrined in the new public order law, introduced this year. Previously, any person found with an “offensive weapon” had to prove that they had lawful authority or reasonable excuse to possess it. But, under new legislation the possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is an offence, and a “defence” is only provided if the person has a good reason or lawful authority to have such an item with them.
Anyone who cannot provide a valid reason for carrying a knife in public, such as for work, faces up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.
The Children, Education, and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel examined the law, and Deputy Catherine Curtis, who chairs the panel, said they were pleased to see it come into effect.
“Hopefully it will allow for better intervention, highlight the problem and act as a deterrent,” she said.
The new law was partly brought in due to a rise in knife crime in schools.
Deputy Curtis said: “School premises are included because unfortunately it has become popular in some parts of the UK and elsewhere to carry a knife.
“Children and young people may not realise how quickly carrying a knife can escalate in a fight to serious injury or death.”
