UK - The number of criminals caught with knives is at its highest in a decade and one in five culprits are children. The shocking figures released today reveal that last year more than 21,000 offences of possessing or making threats with blades or offensive weapons resulted in a conviction or caution in England and Wales. But almost two-thirds of cases did not result in an immediate prison term, despite assurances from politicians of a crack-down on knife crime. It comes after Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged an immediate £100 million boost to police forces in his Spring statement to battle knife crime, after a disturbing spree of violence in Bloodbath Britain. A number of incidents in recent weeks, such as the death of girl scout Jodie Chesney and private school pupil Yousef Makki, both 17 - have sharply put into the focus the escalating epidemic facing the country. Twenty people – including Jaden Moodie, who was just 14 – have been murdered in London in the first three months of 2019.