SarahCobbold/TwitterPeople are calling for tougher sentences for those who carry out acid attacks following recent events.
The calls come as police investigate a string of five acid attacks that took place in east London over the course of just 90 minutes last night.
Re: #AcidAttack the statute has the necessary charge 'wounding with intent' which carries possible 'life imprisonment' – CPS must use.
— Rob (@W1ROB) July 14, 2017
What the fuck is with this acid attack increasing in the UK?? Should be jailed for life for something like that!
— Dii Gurung (@EroLama) July 14, 2017
2 years imprisonment for an acid attack, should deffo get life the scum
— Jacob Burnett (@jacobisace) July 14, 2017
Others believe more should be done to reduce the ‘easy access’ people have to acid…
Using acid to hurt people has to be the most cowardly way to do things! Something needs to be done about easy access to acid!! #acidattack
— Mo (@youwannaraeese) July 14, 2017
Katie Piper, who was the victim of an acid attack in 2008, has written an open letter pleading for tougher sentences as she believes current legislation ‘does not always recognise the severity of the offence’.
Katie has undergone more than 250 operations to improve her physical functioning, including operations to help her breathe through her nose, as well as hours of psychological therapy to help her to ‘deal with the trauma of the attack’ and to accept her ‘new face’.
PAShe said:
I will continue to need operations and therapy for life. For acid attack survivors, the aftermath is a life sentence.
At present, it is all too easy for someone to buy a corrosive substance and throw it, sometimes from a distance, at another person. It is vital that we do everything we can to halt these types of attack.
The current legislation does not always recognise the severity of the offence and, therefore, the sentencing does not reflect the severity of the crime in some cases. Tougher sentencing would surely act as a deterrent to further attacks.
The issue of penalties for carrying corrosive substances needs to be addressed and restrictions on the sale of corrosive substances need to be looked at seriously and methodically through a scientific and well-resourced approach that leads to swift action.
Resham Khan/GoFundMeSo far this year, excluding last night, 119 such attacks have been recorded.
Last night’s attacks come just weeks after Resham Khan, 21, and her cousin, Jameel Muhktar, 37, were targeted in Beckton, East London, in June on Khan’s 21st birthday.
Attacks involving corrosive substances have more than doubled in England since 2012 with London having the most dramatic rise in recent years.
Another Acid Attack ! In Queenbridge Road, East London pic.twitter.com/0dsRco4pSt
— A K Salam (@s4l4m) July 14, 2017
According to The Metropolitan Police, there were 261 attacks in 2015, rising to 458 last year.
Any witnesses, anyone with information or in possession of footage of these incidents should contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC.
To remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
