CRIMINALS found with corrosive substances twice will face automatic prison sentences following a move to combat the threat of acid attacks.

The new 'two strikes' rule will mirror the policy for those convicted of more than one knife possession offence.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd made the announcement after police figures showed there were 408 attacks using corrosive substances between November 2016 and April this year.

It comes after a Southampton woman was permanently disfigured and blinded in one eye when she had acid hurled in her face in an attack in the city.

Last year, mum-of-six Carla Whitlock was in Guildhall Square when she had liquid thrown in her face.

Attackers Billy and Geoffrey Midmore fled the city after the incident but police tracked them down.

Billy was jailed for 15 years while Geoffrey was jailed for nine years.

Ms Rudd said: "All forms of violent crime are totally unacceptable, which is why we are taking action to restrict access to offensive weapons and crack down on those who carry acids with the intent to do harm."

As part of the new guidelines, online retailers could also face prosecution if they deliver knives to a buyer's home, in a measure aimed at clamping down on the sale of blades to children and teenagers.

The steps follow a surge in violent offences recorded by police.

However, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott warned: “Unless there are sufficient officers to enforce the law, new legislation will have a limited effect.”

After a flurry of high-profile incidents, the Government announced plans earlier this month to create a new offence of possession of a corrosive substance in public without a good or lawful reason.

The full Home Office consultation document published on Saturday (October 14) revealed the proposed crackdown will also see those convicted for a second time face a mandatory minimum sentence.

The approach will be modelled on a system rolled out in 2015 for offenders repeatedly caught with knives.

Minimum sentences were introduced for those aged 16 and over who are convicted of a second or subsequent offence of possession of a knife or offensive weapon.