The head of the Metropolitan Police has said suspects of serious offences are being released on bail because of overcrowded prisons and a struggling justice system. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said fewer defendants accused of knife crime are being remanded into custody, and offenders are being repeatedly charged and bailed over the same offences.
Justice system failing to execute tougher laws
Sir Mark said the toughening of knife crime and firearms legislation has helped reduce serious crime over the last 25 years. However, an overcrowded justice system appears to be making the tougher laws less effective than desired.
"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.
Repeat offenders routinely bailed
"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," he said. "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."
Example of Notting Hill Carnival
Sir Mark gave the example of the recent Notting Hill Carnival, when an individual tried to take what resembled a small sword – said to be around 18 inches long – into the event. He said 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 said. "That is deeply concerning to me, the message that sends, and that fundamentally undermines offender control."
Similar pattern with firearms offences
Sir Mark said the force is also seeing the same pattern with firearm offences. "And I'm flabbergasted by this," he added.
There are around 34 cases of individuals charged with firearms offences in the city who are all on bail pending trial, nine of which the accused had fired shots in confrontation. Sir Mark said that a few years ago, before the justice system was struggling, this "just wouldn't have happened".
