Young knife crime offenders should be forced to do national service instead of prison, according to new research into public attitudes.
A "citizens panel" of 15 members representing a diverse cross-section of the population concluded that National Service would be a more effective deterrent than imprisonment.
The panel found that military service would also offer an opportunity to rehabilitate young offenders by providing "structure and opportunities for development".
"Our first point is bringing in National Service for more severe crimes, because obviously we see a lot of people who aren't actually scared to go to prison," said one panel member.
They added: "I think people would be a little bit more scared if you could get sentenced to something called National Service. Which is joining the army and navy, air force, something like that.
"Then they're also going to come out with qualifications and a good routine, so they're less likely to reoffend."
The panel was organised by the Prison Reform Trust to provide insight for the Government's independent review of sentencing.
Recent figures show that a quarter of convictions and cautions for knife crime in London were given to boys aged 10-17 last year.
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data revealed 814 of the 3,298 knife crime convictions in London in the year to September 2024 involved young males.
Of these sentences, 802 were for possession of a knife or offensive weapon and 15 were for threatening with a knife. Across England and Wales, 17 per cent of knife crime convictions or cautions last year were given to boys.
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However, boys made up 96 per cent of all juvenile knife crime convictions in London.
"We spoke about doing community service in the area where you've committed the crime and doing it in public so that they can be seen," one panel member said.
The group "felt strongly" that artificial intelligence and technology should be used to modernize the sentencing system. They suggested automation could help reduce court backlogs and speed up sentencing.
There has been a significant decline in community sentences in England and Wales, falling by more than half between 2012 and 2022.
Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "These findings challenge the notion that the public simply wants ever-harsher punishments and instead reveals a desire for a system that is fair, cost-effective, and actually reduces reoffending."
"With prisons at breaking point, the call for reform could not be clearer or more timely," she added.
The review, led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, is due to be published next month.
It will inform the Government's planned overhaul of sentencing in landmark legislation later this year aimed at addressing the prisons' overcrowding crisis.
Find Out More...
A "citizens panel" of 15 members representing a diverse cross-section of the population concluded that National Service would be a more effective deterrent than imprisonment.
The panel found that military service would also offer an opportunity to rehabilitate young offenders by providing "structure and opportunities for development".
"Our first point is bringing in National Service for more severe crimes, because obviously we see a lot of people who aren't actually scared to go to prison," said one panel member.
They added: "I think people would be a little bit more scared if you could get sentenced to something called National Service. Which is joining the army and navy, air force, something like that.
"Then they're also going to come out with qualifications and a good routine, so they're less likely to reoffend."
The panel was organised by the Prison Reform Trust to provide insight for the Government's independent review of sentencing.
Recent figures show that a quarter of convictions and cautions for knife crime in London were given to boys aged 10-17 last year.
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data revealed 814 of the 3,298 knife crime convictions in London in the year to September 2024 involved young males.
Of these sentences, 802 were for possession of a knife or offensive weapon and 15 were for threatening with a knife. Across England and Wales, 17 per cent of knife crime convictions or cautions last year were given to boys.
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However, boys made up 96 per cent of all juvenile knife crime convictions in London.
"We spoke about doing community service in the area where you've committed the crime and doing it in public so that they can be seen," one panel member said.
The group "felt strongly" that artificial intelligence and technology should be used to modernize the sentencing system. They suggested automation could help reduce court backlogs and speed up sentencing.
There has been a significant decline in community sentences in England and Wales, falling by more than half between 2012 and 2022.
Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "These findings challenge the notion that the public simply wants ever-harsher punishments and instead reveals a desire for a system that is fair, cost-effective, and actually reduces reoffending."
"With prisons at breaking point, the call for reform could not be clearer or more timely," she added.
The review, led by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, is due to be published next month.
It will inform the Government's planned overhaul of sentencing in landmark legislation later this year aimed at addressing the prisons' overcrowding crisis.
Find Out More...