Startling new data has emerged, revealing that a majority of knife crime offenders in Avon and Somerset are first-time convicts with no prior knife-related convictions or cautions.

The Ben Kinsella Trust, a leading anti-knife crime organisation, warns that this suggests "for some, carrying knives has become normalised behaviour," prompting urgent calls for immediate policy reform.

According to the Ministry of Justice, 244 first-time knife offenders in Avon and Somerset entered the criminal justice system in the year ending March 2023.

These newcomers account for 66% of all those found guilty of knife and other weapon-related offences. Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, indicated that only 18% of these individuals were immediately imprisoned, concluding that "the law is not providing a sufficient deterrent and many first-time knife criminals would go on to become serial offenders."

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said, "We are committed to tackling knife crime and its root causes. Our officers work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our communities, but we recognise that more needs to be done."

Nationwide, the proportion of immediate jail sentences for knife crimes has dipped from 37% in 2020 to 30% this year. In Avon and Somerset, knife crime offenders received 368 cautions or sentences. Of these, 116—accounting for 32%—resulted in immediate jail time, a decline from 37% in the 2019-20 financial year.

Additional data from Avon and Somerset Constabulary shows that 55 minors were caught carrying knives in 2022-23, up from 42 the previous year. Green commented, "One possibility is that young people are feeling increasingly unsafe, and that they are mistakenly carrying knives for protection." He added that "protecting our youth and fostering a safe environment for all should be a government priority."

Green also highlighted the influence of social media, which "often portrays knives in a glamorised way." He said young people must be provided with the "support, education, and opportunities" necessary to steer them away from violence.

Regarding the demographic breakdown, 92% of those cautioned or sentenced were men, a slight increase from 90% last year. Overall, knife offences resulting in a caution or sentence in England and Wales slightly decreased to 19,086 this year, down from 19,674 last year.