Justice Minister introduces new law doubling sentences for knife crimes

Ms McEntee received Government approval to publish the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, which will be enacted during the summer break.

The Bill will increase the maximum penalties upon conviction for four knife-related offences.

“We are increasing knife crime sentences,” Ms McEntee said.

The Minister said this was being done in order to “reflect the seriousness of the crime.”

“I have doubled the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, increased the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder to life, and increased the maximum sentence for assaulting a peace officer,” Ms McEntee added.

‘Possessing in a public place an article intended to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person’, is the first offence which will see an increased sentence.

‘Trespassing with a knife, weapon or other article which has a blade or sharp point’ is the second.

The third is the ‘production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury,’ and the fourth is the ‘manufacture, sale, hire of offensive weapons.

Each of these crimes will see increased jail time for anyone committing knife violations.

Minister of State James Browne said the knife crime aspect of the bill was important, at a time when Dublin alone has seen almost three knives being seized per day.

A knife is seized by gardaí on average almost once every eight hours in the capital.

A staggering 1,253 knives were seized in the capital in just 15 months.

“I tasked a subgroup of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum with considering possible responses to knife possession and knife crime and one of the recommendations arising from that was an increase in maximum sentences for possession, production, manufacture and sale of or trespass with a knife or weapon,” said Mr Browne.

“I am pleased that we have secured Government approval for those proposals which represent a proportionate rebalancing and strengthening of the penalties.

“Producing or using a knife to intimidate or assault somebody is a serious crime that can have lasting physical and psychological effects and I welcome the future availability of a broader range of sentencing options for the judiciary when considering these offences,” he added.

The Justice Minister is also intending to plug gaps in the immigration process under the new legislation.

The new Bill will increase the maximum fines paid by airline and ferry companies where they allow someone to board a vehicle coming into the State without proper documentation.

Minister McEntee said the Government will increase carrier fines if companies do not comply with obligations ensuring passengers present correct documentation.

“My Department are working closely with carriers to support them in these obligations, including through the provision of training. These measures are important parts of the work to deter irregular migration and maintain the integrity of our immigration system.

“In addition to this, GNIB and the Border Management Unit have carried out 3040 doorstep operations at Dublin Airport to date this year, resulting in a number of detections and prosecutions for immigration offences,” she said.

The new Bill will also provide for an increase in the mandatory retirement for uniformed public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána, Prison Officers and the Defence Forces, from 60 to 62 years of age.

Minister McEntee said: “I am pleased to have secured Government approval to legislate for an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service.

“This decision reflects the reality that people are living longer, and many want to continue working in their chosen career for longer.”