Bodyworn video captured the moment Taser-wielding Metropolitan Police officers apprehended a 17-year-old male who was concealing a large knife in his trousers. The incident, which occurred at a bus stop, saw officers leap from a patrol car and swiftly detain the youth.
Officers spotted the outline of a weapon, with one heard saying, "That's a knife isn't it, the outline of a knife?" They then drew their Tasers, ordered the youth to the ground, and arrested him for possession of an offensive weapon, recovering a "large Rambo knife."
Upon questioning, the individual confirmed he was 17 years old, identifying him as a juvenile. Consequently, he received a referral order instead of a custodial sentence. Referral orders are issued to young offenders aged 10 to 17 who plead guilty to a charge for the first time. They involve a panel, the young person, their parents or carers, and a Youth Justice Service worker, who together negotiate a plan to address offending behavior and payback to the community or victim. These orders aim to prevent re-offending and offer a second chance, with the sentence considered spent at the end of a period ranging from three to 12 months.
The Metropolitan Police shared the footage on social media, noting that officers removed 2,894 knives from the streets last year alone. However, the decision to issue a referral order has drawn criticism.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the outcome, stating that individuals carrying knives should face "real consequences." He commented, "It's a joke that a youth swaggering down the street with a massive machete is simply given a youth referral order – which means he faces next to no consequences."
Philp advocated for minimum consequences such as prison time or extensive community service, and proposed mandatory prison sentences for repeat offenses of carrying a knife, even for youths, to prevent crime from escalating.