Knife possession sentencing quarterly brief, England and Wales: January to March 2015
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Knife Possession Sentencing Statistics. This series of publications contain key statistics describing trends in cautioning and sentencing, probation supervision and the prison population for offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon in England and Wales.

Knife Possession Sentencing 
Quarterly, England and Wales 
 
January to March 2015 
 
Ministry of Justice 
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
Published 11 June 2015 
 

 
 
Contents  
Contents 
2 
Introduction 
3 
Key findings 
5 
Knife Possession Sentencing 
6 
Annex A: List of Accompanying Tables 
10 
Annex B: Key Events 
12 
Annex C: Assessing the accuracy of estimation method 
13 
Annex D: Explanatory notes 
15 
Annex E: Other knife and sharp object related statistical released 
17 
Annex F: Glossary 
18 
Contacts 
19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

 
 
Introduction 
This bulletin presents key statistics describing the trends in the number of offenders 
receiving cautions and convictions, being under probation supervision and in the 
prison population for possession of knife offences in England and Wales. This 
bulletin does not cover all knife crimes (offences involving a knife) as published by 
the Office for National Statistics1.  
The publication provides provisional figures for the latest quarter (January to March 
2015) with accompanying commentary and analysis. The information provided is a 
summary of three types of knife and weapon possession offences: 
 possession offences of having an article with a blade or point in a public place or 
on school premises,  
 possession of offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse in 
a public place or on school premises,  
 offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapson in a public place 
or on school premises (introduced on 3rd December 20122 – an aggravated form 
of a possession offence occurs when an offender in possession of a knife or 
offensive weapon uses it to threaten and endangers others).  
In previous bulletins where reference was made to knife possession offences only 
offences involving the possession of knives or offensive weapons were included, key 
statistics describing the trends in aggravated offences were presented separately. In 
this bulletin where reference is made to knife possession offences all three types, as 
described above, are included. This change has been made so that overall trends in 
the possession of knife offences in England and Wales can be presented. Tables 
providing information for each of the three offence groups individually are also 
presented. 
The key events that might be expected to affect the statistics presented in this 
bulletin can be found in Annex B. 
 
Data Sources 
This report draws on data from the following sources: 
 Data on cautions and convictions are collected from the Police National 
Computer (PNC) – tables 1-9. Due to the number of updates as more case 
information becomes available on the PNC an estimation methodology is used to 
estimate the number and breakdown of disposals given for the possession of a 
                                            
1 www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/year-ending-december-2014/crime-in-england-and-wales--
year-ending-december-2014.html#tab-Offences-involving-knives-and-sharp-instruments. Details of other official 
statistics publications regarding knife related statistics can be found in Annex E. 
  
2 www.gov.uk/government/news/new-sentences-and-criminal-offences-come-into-effect.  
 
3

 
 
 The probation data has been drawn from local probation administrative IT 
systems – tables 10 - 12 
 Prison population are drawn from prison administrative IT systems. 
 
Feedback requested  
The  structure and content of this report is continually being reviewed to reflect user 
requirements. If you have any feedback about these changes, or report more 
generally, please contact the production team using the contact details at the back of 
the report. 
Current and previous editions of this publication are available for download at 
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/series/knife-possession-
sentencing-quarterly. 
The next publication of the Knife Possession Sentencing Quarterly is scheduled to be 
published on 10th September 2015, covering the period April  to June  2015. 
 
4

 
 
Key findings  
Estimates indicate that for the period January to March 2015 (Q1 2015):   
 the total number of offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system 
(CJS) for the possession of knife offences continues to be relatively stable. In the 
latest quarter;  4,117 offences  were dealt with by the CJS, compared to 3,992 
offences in Q1 2014 and 4,083 in the previous quarter. 
Of those crimes; 
 the number of adult offenders given cautions continues to fall - in the latest 
quarter just 10% of adult offenders received a caution, this is the lowest level it 
has been since 2007.  
 the use of suspended sentences continues to increase and is now at its highest 
level since their introduction in April 2005. More than one in five (23%) of adult 
offenders now receive a suspended sentence for these offences, an increase of 
22% when compared with Q1 2014  and 4% higher when compared with the 
previous quarter.  
 compared to 7 years ago, juvenile offenders are now more likely to receive an 
immediate custodial sentence; 13% of juvenile offenders received an immediate 
custodial sentence compared to 6% in Q1 2008.  
 aggravated possession of a knife or offensive weapon accounted for 3% of all 
knife possession offences. 
 
 
 
5

 
 
Knife Possession Sentencing 
The total number of offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system (CJS) 
for the possession of knife offences continues to be relatively stable. In the latest 
quarter, 4,117 offences were dealt with by the CJS, compared to 3,992 offences in 
Q1 2014 and 4,083 in the previous quarter.  
On 3rd December 2012 an aggravated form of a possession offence was introduced. 
This offence occurs when an  offender in possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
uses it to threaten and endangers others i.e. offences relate to threatening offences 
rather than offences where a knife is actually used. In Q1 2015 this offence 
accounted for 3% of all knife possession offences. 
The levels of police recorded crime3 for offences involving a knife or sharp instrument 
over the same period has also been relatively stable. In the year ending December 
2014 the police recorded 26,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, 1% 
less than the same period a year ago.  
Figure 1: Proportion of type of disposal given for knife possession offences in 
England and Wales, between Q1 2013 and Q1 2015 
   
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Q1 2008
Q2 2008
Q3 2008
Q4 2008
Q1 2009
Q2 2009
Q3 2009
Q4 2009
Q1 2010
Q2 2010
Q3 2010
Q4 2010
Q1 2011
Q2 2011
Q3 2011
Q4 2011
Q1 2012
Q2 2012
Q3 2012
Q4 2012 
Q1 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2013
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
Q2 2014
Q3 2014
Q4 2014
Q1 2015
Proportion of all disposals
Caution
Absolute / Conditional  discharge
Fine
Community sentence
Suspended sentence
Immediate custody
Other disposal
 
Notes: 
1) 
Figures for Q2 – Q4 2014 and Q1 2015 include estimated figures based on historial data changes. Please see Annex C for further details. 
2) 
From Q1 2013 offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapon have been included. 
 
The most common disposal for a knife possession offence continues to be immediate 
custodial sentences (30%) followed by community sentences (26%).  
Adult offenders were more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence for knife 
possession offences (34%).  However, the use of suspended sentences continues to 
increase and in the latest quarter more than one in five (23%) of adult offenders 
                                            
3www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/year-ending-december-2014/crime-in-england-and-wales--year-ending-
december-2014.html#tab-Offences-involving-knives-and-sharp-instruments 
 
 
6

 
 
received a suspended sentence; an increase of 22% when compared with Q1 2014 
and 4% higher over the previous quarter.  
Over time there has been a significant fall in the proportion of adult offenders given a 
caution. In the latest quarter, 10% of adults offenders received a caution which is the 
lowest level it has been since 2007. This decline has in part been driven by the 
revised guidance on cautions that was issued in November 2013. The guidance 
made it clear that simple cautions should not be given for possession of a knife, and 
other serious either way offences, unless their issue was signed off by at least an 
Inspector. Since then statutory restrictions around the use of cautions, including their 
use for possession of a knife, have also been included in the Criminal Justice and 
Courts Act 20154 which came into force in April 2015.  
Juvenile offenders were more likely to receive a community sentence for possession 
of a knife offence (52%). Just over a quarter (28%) were given a youth caution5 - this 
proportion has remained relatively stable during the last 12 months, but is 
significantly lower than in Q1 2008 where 47% of juvenile offenders received 
cautions.  
There has also been an increase in the number of juvenile offenders receiving an 
immediate custodial sentence; in Q1 2015 13% of juvenile offenders received an 
immediate custodial sentence compared with 6% in Q1 2008.  
 
Criminal history of those cautioned or sentenced for knife possession offences 
Offenders with no previous knife possession offences were more likely to receive a 
community sentence (30%) in the 12 months ending March 2015, whereas offenders 
with at least one previous possession offence on their record were more likely to 
receive an immediate custodial sentence (45%). 
The likelihood of a custodial sentence for adult offenders rose in relation to the 
number of previous possession offences; 24% of adult offenders with no previous 
convictions received an immediate custodial sentence compared to 57% for those 
with three or more previous offences.  
Juvenile offenders were more likely to receive a community sentence whether or not 
they had a previous knife possession offence; 54% of those with no previous knife 
possession offences and 63% of those with one or more previous knife possession 
offence. Only 3% of juvenile offenders received a caution after having a previous 
possession offence which compares to 33% of offenders with no previous 
possession offences. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            
4See section 17 at www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428204/cjc-act-circular.pdf 
5 Since April 8
th 2013 youth cautions were introduced replacing reprimands and warnings for young offenders. 
 
7

 
 
Offenders commencing probation  
 
In Q1 2015 there were 1,061 court order starts under probation supervision for 
possession of an offensive weapon; this represents an increase of 3% from Q1 2014 
and 19% from Q1 2013. Community orders decreased by 8% over the past year, 
whilst suspended sentence orders increased by 19%. 
The proportion of those given unpaid work for community orders, as a percentage of 
all requirements, has risen over the past year, from 29% to 32%; for suspended 
sentence orders it fell from 26% to 23%. 
Where unpaid work requirements were started under community orders the 
proportion of longer requirements has decreased over the past year; for suspended 
sentence orders the proportion has also decreased. 
 For community orders, in Q1 2015, 11% of unpaid work requirements were 
recorded as being 200 hours or longer, compared to 12% in Q1 2014.  
 For suspended sentence orders, in Q1 2015, 15% of unpaid work 
requirements were recorded as being 200 hours or longer, compared to 17% 
in Q1 2014. 
 
Offenders in prison for knife possession offences 
 
480 offenders were in prison serving a sentence for possession of an offensive 
weapon on 27 March 2015, up 24% from a year ago and reversing the overall 
downward trend seen in the prison population for this offence since early 2009. This 
trend now appears to coincide with the general increasing use and length of custodial 
sentences for possession offences.  
 
8

 
 
Figure 2: Prison population under sentence for possession of an offensive 
weapon6 (excludes recalls) in England and Wales, between January 2008 and 
March 2015   
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Jan-08
Mar-08
May-08
Jul-08
Sep-08
Nov-08
Jan-09
Mar-09
May-09
Jul-09
Sep-09
Nov-09
Jan-10
Mar-10
May-10
Jul-10
Sep-10
Nov-10
Jan-11
Mar-11
May-11
Jul-11
Sep-11
Nov-11
Jan-12
Mar-12
May-12
Jul-12
Sep-12
Nov-12
Jan-13
Mar-13
May-13
Jul-13
Sep-13
Nov-13
Jan-14
Mar-14
May-14
Jul-14
Sep-14
Nov-14
Jan-15
Mar-15
Number of prisoners under immediate custodial sentence
Due to technical problems relating to the supply of statistical information, it is not possible to provide figures from July 2009 to March 2010
2009
2010
2013
2012
2011
2008
2014
 
 
                                            
6 Includes having an article with a blade or a point. 
 
9

 
 
Annex A: List of Accompanying Tables 
Accompanying this publication are the following tables  
Table 1 
Knife Possession offences resulting in a caution or sentence, in 
England and Wales, annually from year ending March 2009 and 
quarterly from Q4 2007 
 
 
 
Table 1a 
Offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence, in England and Wales, annually from 
year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 2007 
Table 1b 
Offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence, in England and Wales, annually from 
year ending March 2014 and quarterly from Q1 2013  
Table 2 
Offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence by age group, in England and Wales, 
annually from year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 2007 
Table 3 
Offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence by type of offence, in England and 
Wales, annually from year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 
2007 
Table 4 
Offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in an immediate custodial sentence, in England and Wales, 
annually from year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 2007 
Table 5 
Offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence by police force area, in England and 
Wales, annually from year ending March 2009  
Table 6 
Number of previous convictions or cautions for the possession of a 
knife or offensive weapon offences for offenders convicted or cautioned 
for a possession offence by disposal category, in England and Wales, 
annually from year ending March 2009  
Table 7 
Number of previous convictions or cautions for the possession of a 
knife or offensive weapon offences for offenders convicted or cautioned 
for a possession offence by disposal category, broken down by age 
group, in England and Wales, annually from year ending March 2009  
Table 8 
Number of previous convictions or cautions for the possession of a 
knife or offensive weapon offences for offenders convicted or cautioned 
for threatening with a knife or offensive weapon by disposal category, 
broken down by age group, in England and Wales, annually from year 
ending March 2014   
 
 
10

 
 
Table 9 
Offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapon 
resulting in a caution or sentence by age group, in England and Wales, 
annually from year ending March 2014 and quarterly from Q1 2003  
Table 10 
Offenders commencing a court order under probation supervision for 
possession of an offensive weapon, in England and Wales, annually 
from year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 2007  
Table 11 
Requirement starts for possession of offensive weapon, in England and 
Wales, annually from year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 
2007  
Table 12 
Unpaid work requirements started by length of requirement given for 
possession of offensive weapon in England and Wales, annually from 
year ending March 2009 and quarterly from Q4 2007 
 
     
 
  
 
 
11

 
 
Annex B: Key Events 
The key events that might be expected to affect the statistics in this bulletin were: 
 
 On 21 May 2008, the Court of Appeal issued the judgment in Povey7 that said, 
because of prevalence, magistrates should normally sentence those convicted of 
knife crime possession offences at the top end of the range. 
 
 The Sentencing Guidelines Council issued an update to the magistrates’ courts 
guidelines, with effect from 4 August 2008, which set out the effect of the Court of 
Appeal judgment and made it clear that the starting point for the lowest level of 
knife possession amongst adults should be 12 weeks’ custody. This applies in 
cases where a first time offender pleads not guilty to possession of a knife in non-
dangerous circumstances. A guilty plea would attract a discount in the normal 
way, as would any personal mitigation, and could take the sentence below the 
custody threshold. 
 
 Since September 2008 all probation areas have been able to provide intensive 
delivery of 300 hour Community Payback sentences for unemployed offenders 
convicted of knife crime offences, who are on the brink of custody. In January 
2009 this offer of intensive delivery of a minimum of 18 hours per week over three 
days was extended to Community Payback sentences of any length imposed for 
an offence of knife crime, when an offender is unemployed. 
 
 From 3 December 2012, a new offence of aggravated knife possession came into 
force. Anyone aged 16 or over who uses a knife or offensive weapon to threaten 
and endanger others will face a mandatory custodial sentence, unless the court 
considers there to be particular circumstances which would make it unjust to do 
so.8 
                                            
7 Povey & Ors, R. v, Court of Appeal - Criminal Division, May 21, 2008, [2008] EWCA Crim 1261. 
8 For legislation, see:  www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/10/contents/enacted  
 
12

 
 
Annex C: Assessing the accuracy of estimation method 
During the development of the October to December (Q4) 2013 bullein, a 
methodology was introduced to estimate the number and breakdown of disposals 
given for two types of knife possession offences: 
 possession offences of having an article with a blade or point in a public place or 
on school premises,  
 possession of offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse in 
a public place or on school premises.  
This annex assesses the accuracy of this methodology. 
Whilst developing the builletin significant changes were seen in the disposal figures 
from those initially published for each quarter when compared with those released 
over the following year. The main reason for this change was that the data held on 
the Police National Computer (PNC) is updated with new information each month for 
not only the current month, but also for all previous months included in the PNC 
dataset. This difference was particularly noticeable for the number of immediate 
custodial sentences and other disposals. Initial investigations showed that the scale 
of the changes over time was stable, and so a new methodology was introduced to 
predict these final sentencing figures for the most recent four quarters. 
Table 1 below illustrates the accuracy of the estimation process that was used to 
provide the statistics that were published for Q1 2014 by comparing non-estimated 
and estimated figures by disposal group with the actual figures published one (Q1 
2015) year on. 
Table 1: Changes in the number of disposals reported for knife possession 
offences in Q1 2014 between the non-estimated, estimated and final actual 
figures  
Disposal category
Q1 2014 - non 
estimated
Q1 2014- 
estimated
Q1 2014 - 
actual figures
% change - non 
estimated to 
actual figures
% change - 
estimated to 
actual figures
Caution
545
552
554
2
0
Absolute/Conditional discharge
144
157
156
8
-
Fine
153
164
161
5
-
Community sentence
1,160
1138
1,149
-1
1
Suspended sentence
624
606
616
-1
2
Immediate custody
936
1099
1,118
19
2
Other disposal
333
198
155
-53
-22
All disposals
3,895
3,914
3,909
0
0
1
2
 
 
13

 
 
As outlined above, figures show that there were large differences between the non-
estimated and the actual final figures for those receiving an immediate custodial 
sentence or other disposal, with differences of 19% and 53% respectively. However, 
when the estimated figures are compared with the actual final figures for these two 
disposal categories there is less change, with difference of 2% and 22% respectively.  
The biggest impact/change is seen in an increase in the figures for immediate 
custody and related decrease in the ‘other disposal category’.  
This showed that the methodology being used had been successful in predicting the 
changes seen in disposals over the year and so it was decided that future bulletins 
would continue to use this methodology for the most recent four quarters.  
We continue to review this methodology and provide updates on the accuracy of our 
estimates. In the future we are going to be looking into extending this estimation 
methodology for the aggravated knife offences.   
 
 
 
 
 
14

 
 
Annex D: Explanatory notes 
Data quality and sources 
Tables 1 to 9  
The statistics presented in tables 1 to 9 in this bulletin are drawn from an extract of 
data held on the Police National Computer (PNC) as at 1st May 2015. 
The PNC is a large administrative database containing information about police 
cautions and court convictions held by individual offenders in England and Wales. As 
an administrative system, the PNC is regularly updated as new information about 
particular individuals becomes available. For example, an offender with previous 
convictions may have recently been charged with another offence, appeared in court 
against this charge and then been subsequently convicted of this offence. This 
information would then be updated accordingly against that individual’s record in the 
PNC.  
As these updates involve some element of manual data entry alongside more 
automated systems, there can be delays in the database becoming updated with the 
latest information about an offender’s convictions. As such, the number of 
cautions/convictions recorded in the PNC extract for knife possession offences, in 
particular for the most recent quarter included in this bulletin, is likely to be lower than 
the actual number of cautions/convictions given in the period.  
In addition, the different disposals recorded in the PNC extract for knife possession 
offences in recent quarters are also subject to some change. This is partly due to the 
delays in updating recent court outcomes on the PNC, but is also due to the fact that, 
while some individuals will have been convicted of a knife possession offence in a 
magistrate’s court during the quarter, information about the disposal they received is 
not yet available as the case has been passed to the Crown Court for sentencing at a 
later date. These cases will be updated when information about the final sentence 
given for the offence becomes available.  
As a result of these updates, the statistics presented in this bulletin for the most 
recent four quarters are based on estimates as described in Annex C. 
Tables 10 to 12 and Figure 3  
The probation data has been processed from data collected and held centrally by the 
Ministry of Justice. The data are drawn from the local probation administrative IT 
systems from each of the 35 probation trusts in England and Wales. The figures 
showing the numbers starting court orders relate to the number of offenders starting 
probation supervision in a given period. The numbers drawn from the PNC data in 
tables 1 to 5 relate to the total number of offences committed by offenders given 
particular disposals, which are likely to be greater than the number of offenders. Also, 
the probation data shows offenders convicted of the more general offence of 
‘possession of an offensive weapon’. This will include possession of knives, as well 
the particular offence of ‘possession of an article with a blade or point’, but these 
cannot be separately distinguished in the probation data. 
 
15

 
 
Prison population data presented in this bulletin are drawn from the prison 
administrative IT systems. The figures showing the numbers under sentence refer to 
the number of offenders serving a custodial sentence. Figures drawn from PNC data 
refer to the number of offences committed by offenders given particular disposals. 
Prison establishments routinely provide records of the numbers of persons held in 
custody at the end of each month, broadly subdivided according to age, sex, custody 
type and sentence length. The records are collated and processed centrally. 
However, data recorded by prisons only show the numbers serving a sentence for 
the general offence of “possession of an offensive weapon”. This offence includes 
the possession of a knife but can also include possession of other dangerous 
weapons (excluding firearms). 
Due to technical problems relating to the supply of data for statistical purposes it has 
not been possible to provide data relating to the prison population for specific offence 
types from July 2009 to March 2010.  
 
 
16

 
 
Annex E: Other knife and sharp object related statistical 
released 
Other government departments also release statistics relating to knives and sharp 
objects. Below are some links and brief outlines of other available sources. 
 The Home Office provide a guidance document regarding the law for knives and 
offensive weapons. 
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/186911/K
nives_and_offensive_weapons_information_GDS_FAQ.pdf 
www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-buy-or-carry-a-knife  
 The Home Office also publish statistics of offences involving knives and sharp 
instruments. This is contained within the Crime in England and Wales statistical 
bulletin and has a section called Offences involving knives and sharp instruments. 
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/year-ending-december-
2014/crime-in-england-and-wales--year-ending-december-2014.html#tab-
Offences-involving-knives-and-sharp-instruments  
 The Office for National Statistics publishes information on recorded crime for 
selected violent and sexual offences involving a knife or sharp instrument and 
offences involving firearms, see additional Tables 9 and 10. 
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-
xx-xxxx-xxxx 
 The Department for Health release hospital admission data for assaults on an ad 
hoc basis. Within this data there is a category for X99 - Assault by sharp object. 
The link for the most recently released publication is listed below and the data can 
usually be found in the Monthly HES data – Monthly topic of interest section of the 
HES online website. 
www.hscic.gov.uk/hes 
 
17

 
 
Annex F: Glossary 
Adult: An offender aged 18 and over. 
Caution: A warning given to adult offenders who admit guilt and agree to be 
cautioned. They are issued on the instructions of a senior police officer where there 
is sufficient evidence for a conviction and it is not considered to be in the public 
interest to institute criminal proceedings.  
Community sentence: An alternate to custodial sentence (sending offenders to 
prison) which allows offenders to make amends for their crimes. For juveniles the 
main community sentence used are the referral order and the Youth Rehabilitation 
Order (YRO). With a community sentence there are specific things the offender can, 
can’t and must do while serving their sentence. Elements of a community sentence 
include: Supervision, Unpaid work, Specified activities, Prohibited activities, 
Accredited programmes, Curfew, exclusion, Residence, Mental health treatment, 
Drug rehabilitation, Alcohol treatment and attendance centre requirement for under 
25s. 
England and Wales – Total figures for England and Wales now include all police 
forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police (BTP). The Home 
Office is responsible for policing the 43 police forces in England and Wales. There 
are also other authorities who prosecute offenders such as: Department for Work and 
Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Ministry of Defence 
(MOD).  
Immediate custody: Unsuspended imprisonment for adults aged 21 or over and 
detention in a young offender institution for those aged 18 to 20. The maximum 
sentence available is 4 years. Juveniles aged 12 to 17 may receive a detention and 
training order of 4, 6, 8, 10,12, 18 or 24 months.  
Juvenile:  An offender between the ages 10 and 17. 
Offensive weapon: Any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the 
person, or intended by the person having it with him for such.  Examples includes: a 
swordstick, a hollow walking-stick or cane containing a blade. 
Reprimand and warning: Issued to juvenile first time offenders for minor offences. 
Reprimand and warning for juveniles are equivalent of cautions for adults. These 
were replaced by youth cautions on April 8th 2013. 
Youth cautions: Introduced on April 8th 2013. They are formal out-of-court disposals 
for young offenders (aged 10 to 17) and intended to allow a more flexible response to 
offending than the preceding Final Warning Scheme. These now replace reprimands 
and warnings. 
Suspended Sentence: A custodial sentence of 6 months or less in magistrate’s 
courts and 2 years or less in the Crown Court, suspended for a period ranging from 
six months to two years available for adults only.  
 
18

 
 
 
19
Contacts 
Press enquiries on the contents of this bulletin should be directed to the Ministry of 
Justice press office:  
 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to the Justice Statistics 
Analytical Services division of the Ministry of Justice: 
 
 
Craig Medhurst  
Ministry of Justice 
Justice Statistical Analytical Services 
7th Floor 
102 Petty France 
London 
SW1H 9AJ 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-mailed 
to: xxx@xxx.xx  
 
General information about the official statistics system of the United Kingdom is 
available from www.statistics.gov.uk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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