Knife possession sentencing quarterly brief: October to December 2016
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.

Published 9 March 2017 
Knife Possession Sentencing Quarterly, England 
and Wales – October to December 2016 
Main points 
 4,602 knife possession 
offences dealt with by the CJS
 The number of knife possession offences dealt with 
by the CJS has risen by 3% since Q4 2015, and is 
accounted for primarily by increases amongst 
juvenile offenders. This figure has increased across 
most police force areas in this time period. 
41% of adult offenders and 11% 
of juvenile offenders were 
given an immediate custodial 
sentence
 
For adults, this is the highest rate since this 
publication series began, almost a decade ago. 
9% of adult offenders and 31% 
of juvenile offenders received a 
caution
 These figures have fallen by 13 percentage points 
for adult offenders and 3 percentage points for 
juvenile offenders since Q4 2008. 
The average custodial sentence 
length was 7.7 months
 For those sentenced to immediate custody, the 
average custodial sentence length for knife 
possession offences has risen by 1.9 months (33%) 
since Q4 2008. 
64% of adult repeat offenders 
received an immediate 
custodial sentence
 This figure has increased by 5 percentage points 
when compared to Q4 2015 for offenders convicted 
under the new minimum sentencing legislation. 
 
Presented are key statistics describing the trends in both the number of offenders 
receiving cautions and convictions, and those in prison for knife possession offences in 
England and Wales. It should be noted that figures for the latest quarter (October to 
December) are provisional. For technical detail, please refer to the accompanying 
technical guide to knife possession sentencing statistics1.  
 
                                               
1 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly  
We are changing how our quarterly bulletins look, and would welcome any 
feedback to xxx@xxx.xx 
For other feedback related to the content of this publication, please let us know at 
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2 
 
1. Knife possession offences and prison population 
4,602 knife possession offences were formally dealt with by the criminal justice 
system in Q4 2016 
 
The number of knife possession offences dealt with by the criminal justice system 
(CJS) has risen by 3% since Q4 2015.  
Figure 1: Knife possession offences resulting in a caution or sentence, and prison 
population under sentence for a knife possession offence2, England and Wales, Q4 
2007 – Q4 2016 (Source: Table 1) 
 
Due to technical problems relating to the supply of statistical information, it is not possible to provide prison population figures 
from July 2009 to March 2010 
Between 2007 and 2014 there was a gradual decline in the number of knife possession 
offences dealt with by the criminal justice system, corresponding with a decline in the 
number of knife possession offenders in prison. 
Since Q4 2014, both of these trends have reversed. However, the number of offenders in 
prison for knife possession offences has risen much faster than the total number of offences 
dealt with in this period, as shown in Figure 1. 
This observation can be explained at least in part by the fact that the proportion of offenders 
being sentenced to immediate custody has increased from 29% to 34% during this period, 
whilst their average sentence length rose from 7.2 to 7.7 months. Thus although the number 
of offenders dealt with has increased only slightly, more of these offenders are going to 
prison, and are staying there for longer. 
                                               
2 Includes articles with a blade or point. Knife possession figures for last four quarters are estimates – see 
accompanying technical guidance for details. 

3 
 
2. Cautions vs. Custodial sentences 
41% of adult offenders and 11% of juvenile offenders were given an immediate 
custodial sentence 
 
This represents an increase of 14 percentage points for adult offenders and 1 
percentage point for juvenile offenders since Q4 2008 
9% of adult offenders and 31% of juvenile offenders received a caution 
 
These figures have fallen by 13 percentage points for adult offenders and 3 
percentage points for juvenile offenders since Q4 2008 
The average custodial sentence length was 7.7 months 
 
For those sentenced to immediate custody, the average custodial sentence length for 
knife possession offences has risen by 1.9 months (33%) since Q4 2008 
Figure 2: Proportion of adult and juvenile offenders given cautions or immediate 
custodial sentences for knife possession offences in England and Wales, 2008 – 2016 
(Source: Table 2) 
 
The most common disposal for a knife possession offence continues to be immediate 
custody (34%) followed by community sentence (23%) and suspended sentence (19%). 
A quarter (25%) of all knife possession offences in the year ending December 2016 
resulting in a caution or conviction were prosecuted by the Metropolitan Police. 
In 2016, the region with the largest number of knife possession offenders was the 
Metropolitan Police Force area, where 63 people per 100,000 of the population were dealt 
with by the CJS for knife possession offences. The region where knife possession offenders 
were least common was Surrey Police Force area, with a rate of 15 per 100,000. 

4 
 
3. Minimum sentencing for repeat offences involving 
possession of a knife or offensive weapon offences 
64% of adult repeat offenders received an immediate custodial sentence 
 
This figure increased by 5 percentage points when compared to the same quarter in 
the previous year for offenders convicted under the new minimum sentencing 
legislation3. 
Figure 3: Adult repeat offenders dealt with by the criminal justice system, by disposal 
type, in Q4 2015 and Q4 2016 
 
  
The number of repeat knife possession sentencing occasions increased from 652 in Q4 
2015 to an estimated 974 cases Q4 2016.  
Those offenders receiving an immediate custodial sentence had an average sentence 
length of 7.2 months. 
 
Of the 974 occasions, 908 were adults, 64% of whom received immediate custodial 
sentences – an increase of 5 percentage points on Q4 2015. An additional 23% received a 
suspended sentence order.  
The remaining 66 cases in Q4 2016 were 16-17 year-olds; 61% received an immediate 
custodial sentence and 36% received a community sentence.  
The proportion of 16 to 17 year olds getting a community sentence is higher than that of 
adults because a non-custodial sentence may be given where the offender pleads guilty 
(91% of 16 to 17 year olds pleaded guilty in this period, and young offenders cannot receive 
a custodial sentence of less than four months in the Youth Court).  
                                               
3 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/2/part/1/crossheading/repeat-offences-involving-offensive-weapons-
etc 

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Further information 
The data presented in this publication are provisional. Figures provided for more recent 
quarters are subject to change in future publications as ongoing cases pass through the 
criminal justice system. 
 
Accompanying files 
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release: 
 
A technical guide providing further information on how the data is collected and 
processed, as well as information on the revisions policy and legislation relevant to 
knife possession sentencing 
 
A set of tables 
 
Official Statistics status 
Official statistics are produced under the remit of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. 
They are produced impartially and are free from political influence. More information can be 
found on the UK Statistics Authority website, accessible via the link below. 
https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/monitoring-and-assessment/code-of-practice/ 
 
Contact 
Press enquiries 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, 7th Floor, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
Next update: 8 June 2017 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly  
 
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