Police must stop giving cautions to knife thugs

Thugs caught carrying knives must be given tougher penalties than a caution, police have been told. Ministers want to ensure those armed with blades do not think they can get away with a slap on the wrist. A Government source told the Daily Express: ‘People rightly want the law to come down hard on dangerous criminals, so it’s welcome news that monsters who wield knives on our streets will now be made to face the music in court.’ But shoplifting, possessing drugs and theft are among crimes where first-time offenders could receive a caution instead of being sent to court, it was said. A new draft code of practice sent to police yesterday will aim to provide stricter guidance on when and how officers can use the measures, as part of the two-tier caution system introduced last year, the Ministry of Justice said.