Toll of armed, dangerous children hits 10-year high

THE number of children caught carrying dangerous weapons for the first time has reached a 10-year high amid heightened fears over the young being dragged into violence, figures revealed yesterday.

Police recorded more than 36,000 possession of weapons offences last year, including 836 “juveniles” – childen aged 10 to 17 – caught carrying weapons for the first time.

This can include carrying a knife, gun, or even acid.

The figures from the Ministry of Justice are only for convictions or cautions at crown court level.

The true figure could be higher as possession of an offensive weapon is considered an “either-way” offence. This means it can potentially be handled in a magistrates court in less serious cases.

Campaigners fear that unless those caught with weapons such as knives face tougher sentences, they will not be deterred from arming themselves.

Emma Caley from the Anti-Knife UK campaign, said: “It is really concerning. We have got an epidemic.

“I am not shocked, we see it every day, but it should be shocking.

Awful

“We are seeing people getting stopped carrying knives more frequently, but the number going to court or being sentenced is decreasing. If they are seeing others being caught and nothing done, there is no deterrent. “This is an awful pattern.” The UK’s major cities have been plagued by violence as youngsters arm themselves with deadly weapons to settle street disputes.

Many cases have been linked to drugs, with gangs battling for control of lucrative markets.

Another factor is thought to be drill music, an aggressive form of rap which brags about violence and encourages revenge attacks.

But more rural communities have also been hit recently. Knife crime has been linked to “county lines” gangs, who are trying to oust local drug dealers in smaller towns in a bid to secure new markets.

The Ministry of Justice statistics also revealed that more than a third of offenders convicted in crown courts last year were “career criminals” – up eight per cent since 2010 and the third increase in a row.

Officials classified the criminals as those with 15 or more previous convictions or cautions and admitted increasing numbers of long-term offenders were convicted of violent crimes against other people.

The report revealed that year-onyear increases had been seen since 2007, with the number of career offenders now almost twice as high, at 91 per cent.