The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 2001 to 2005, is contained in the table.
Offence Statute Custodial sentence length 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Having an article with a blade or point in a public place Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139 Less than 6 months (%) 91 88 88 88 88 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 8 10 9 11 9 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 1 1 2 1 2 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 0 1 1 0 0 24 months (%) 0 0 0 1— 0 Total (number) 589 766 755 803 965 Having an article with a blade or point on school premises Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139A(1) as added by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1) Less than 6 months (%) 33 100 83 92 80 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 67 1— 17 8 1— 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 1— 1— 1— 1— 20 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 24 months (%) 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— Total (number) 3 7 6 12 5 Total of both the above Less than 6 months (%) 91 88 88 88 88 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 8 10 9 11 9 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 1 1 2 1 2 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 0 1 1 0 0 24 months (%) 0 0 0 1— 0 Total (number|) 592 773 761 815 970 Other offences that may include bladed articles Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse Prevention of Crime Act 1953, section 1 Less than 6 months (%) 81 80 78 80 78 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 13 13 14 15 16 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 3 4 4 3 4 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 2 2 2 1 1 24 months or more (%) 1 2 2 1 1 Total (number) 634 787 760 817 829 Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on school premises Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139(2) as added by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1) Less than 6 months (%) 100 40 25 50 33 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 1— 60 25 25 67 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 1— 1— 25 25 1— 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 24 months or more (%) 1— 1— 25 1— 1— Total (number) 3 5 4 4 3 Total of both the above Less than 6 months (%) 81 80 78 80 78 6 months and less than 12 months (%) 13 13 14 15 16 12 months and less than 18 months (%) 3 4 4 4 4 18 months and less than 24 months (%) 2 2 2 1 1 24 months or more (%) 1 2 2 1 1 Total (number) 637 792 764 821 832 1 Nil. 0% = less than 0.5%. Note: Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile these figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Consequently, although figures are shown to the last digit in order to provide a comprehensive record of the information collected, they are not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown. Source: RDS-NOMS, Home Office