By Sophie Borland for the Daily Mail
Published: 00:44 BST, 14 June 2019 | Updated: 00:44 BST, 14 June 2019
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Knife offences have hit a nine-year high following a nationwide surge in stabbings, official figures reveal.
More than 22,000 cases were dealt with by the justice system last year – of which one in five involved children.
But only a third of offenders went to jail. Sentences were so soft that even many of those with several previous knife convictions avoided being locked up. Yesterday’s figures showed 561 criminals were spared prison despite having committed at least three knife offences in the past.
Experts said the courts were being pressured by the Government to avoid short jail terms, particularly for children. The data also revealed a 17 per cent fall in the number of under-18s convicted of knife crime who went to prison last year.
Knife offences have hit a nine-year high following a nationwide surge in stabbings, official figures reveal (stock image)
The rise in offences reflects a recent surge in fatal stabbings with victims ranging from a 14-year-old schoolboy to an 86-year-old grandmother (stock image)
The rise in offences reflects a recent surge in fatal stabbings with victims ranging from a 14-year-old schoolboy to an 86-year-old grandmother. But it is also a consequence of greater use of stop-and-search by police – leading to more individuals being caught in possession of a weapon.
According to the data from the Ministry of Justice, around 22,040 offences involving knives or offensive weapons were dealt with by the criminal justice system in the 12 months to March.
Car theft has increased up to threefold over the last five years, analysis of insurance claims has found.
With official figures showing a surge in the number of stolen vehicles in recent years, a major
