People who carry out ‘life changing’ acid attacks to face life sentences
2 min read
Criminals who are caught carrying acid with the intent to inflict life-changing injuries will face the same sentence as those caught carrying a knife, the Director of Public Prosecutions has said.
Life sentences could be handed out to those who carry out “life changing” attacks even if they miss their target.
Alison Saunders pointed to the rise in public support for tougher sentences after a spate of acid attacks carried out across the capital in recent months, some with Islamophobic motives.
“You can’t just expect to carry acid around without an excuse. It counts as an offensive weapon just as much as a knife or a screwdriver could be,” she said.
“We are very conscious of the impact of this crime and how there has been a recent spate of it so we are very keen to make sure that we do prosecute it and the court has the right sentencing powers.”
The number of crimes in using acid or other noxious substances has grown substantially over the last few years.
Attacks in London have more than doubled over the last three years and data shows a rise across the rest of the UK as well.
In the capital, the number of incidents rose from 186 between April 2014 and March 2015 to 397 in the same period in 2016-17.
Saunders told the London Evening Standard: “We are recognising that there’s been an increase in this type of crime, we are recognising the serious nature of it, the impact it can have on individuals who suffer from having corrosive fluids or acid sprayed at them, which can be life-changing.”
She was also keen to give courts the flexibility to impose tougher judicial sentences on those who intended to inflict life-changing injuries.
“We are giving the courts the widest possible sentencing power they could possibly want, which is up to life,” she said.
A CPS spokesperson said on Friday: “The CPS has today published interim guidance for prosecutors on the appropriate handling of cases involving acid attacks.
“This will form part of the wider review of guidance on offensive weapons, knives, bladed and pointed articles, and the offences against the person charging standard that was already under way.”
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