A magistrate has spoken out over new rules that mean anyone caught with a knife will face prosecution.
Chairman of magistrates for Uxbridge, Richard Bristow, spoke to journalists on the BBC Five Live breakfast show on Monday about the change in guidelines.
The Court of Appeal, which magistrates must adhere to, made a judgement in May that means stiffer sentences for those caught carrying knives.
Speaking to the Gazette, Mr Bristow, said: "The court made the judgement because of the prevalence of knife crime and presently we should sentence at the top of the rung for anything involving a knife or a weapon.
"It means someone carrying a knife innocently, who might have got away with a police caution, will now have to go to court."
Magistrates can sentence criminals to a maximum of six months in prison.
If sentencing powers are not sufficient, defendants can be sent to crown court where the maximum sentence is four years in prison for carrying a weapon.
Mr Bristow warned those who are caught wielding a weapon in public would face a custodial sentence.
He said: "If people are found to be carrying knives they can expect much harsher sentences."
However, he also feels no matter how stringent the sentence handed down by he and his colleagues, the real problem will only be solved by society, adding: "The courts can't solve knife crime. It needs to be tackled by police, parents, teachers and shopkeepers."
But Mr Bristow pointed out that all crimes are judged individually by magistrates and sentenced accordingly.
He added: "I don't know whether there's more knife crime or whether the tabloids are more interested in it.
"But you can't get round there being more dead young people around London. There's this message that carrying a knife provides protection when actually there's more danger of being stabbed if you carry one.
"No-one is going to get a police caution for carrying a knife anymore."
