Knife crime plans 'may cost £80m'

Mar 14 2010

Opposition proposals for mandatory jail sentences for knife crime will cost up to £80 million a year, official figures have shown.

An extra 1,345 offenders would be jailed under measures planned by Labour and the Conservatives.

Labour want mandatory six-month sentences but figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats indicate this would cost the prison service £21 million. Tory plans for two-year sentences would top £80 million.