Blade crime punishments hit 10-year high

It was a trend reflected across the country and knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust says more must be done to stop people being drawn into knife crime.

Ministry of Justice figures show that at least 1,133 offensive weapon crimes resulted in a caution or sentence in GM during 2019: the highest since ​2009 when there were 1,354.

According to the MoJ, the real figure could be higher as there can be delays updating police records for recent offences. The figure includes possession of, or threatening with, a knife or other offensive weapon.

The data also shows that offenders were sent straight to prison on 385 occasions. The average time an offender spends in prison has also crept up over the last four years, to eight months.

Trust chief executive Patrick Green said: “These statistics show that while we are bringing more offenders before the courts, we are doing little to tackle the root causes of knife crime.

“Even though offenders are receiving slightly longer sentences, this does not appear to be a deterrent, as the number of habitual offenders continues to increase. These offenders are clearly stuck in a spiral of violent crime. We must do more to stop young people from getting drawn into violence and knife crime.

“We must balance our approach to not just focus on justice but to include prevention and early intervention programs.”

The figures come after politicians and charity campaigners called for urgent, major investment in youth services to prevent youngsters being drawn into knife crime.