Knife crimes hits nine-year high

Ministry of Justice figures show 365 knife and offensive weapon crimes resulted in a caution or sentence in Cleveland in the year to March – the highest number since 2011, when there were also 365.

This means there were 73 offences per 100,000 people in the area – up from 62 the year before – and 43% of offenders went to prison.

The figure includes possession of, or threatening with, a knife or other offensive weapon, but do not include all offences, such as murder or assault.

Nationally, an estimated 21,325 knife and offensive weapon crimes resulted in a caution or sentence in the 12 months to March – a four per cent drop on the year before, but was still the third-highest annual figure since current records began in 2010.

Knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust said it was a relief to see the numbers drop slightly but warned that "heinous" knife crime has not gone away.

Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said: “We need to remember that these figures show that knife crime is still 53% higher than it was in 2014.

"So sadly, knife crime has not gone away and we need to maintain the focus in tackling and preventing this heinous crime."

Justice minister Chris Philp said: “Knife crime is a devastating blight on too many communities and this government is determined to do everything it can to make our streets safer.”