To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (1) how many and what percentage of people convicted of encouraging violent behaviour involving the use of a knife under the Knives Act 1997 received (a) a fine and (b) a custodial sentence of (i) less than six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 to 18 months and (iv) 18 to 24 months in (A) Suffolk, (B) Bedfordshire, (C) Cambridgeshire, (D) Essex, (E) Hertfordshire and (F) Norfolk in each year since the Act was introduced; (140687)

I have been asked to reply.

No persons convicted or sentenced under the Knives Act 1997 in the police force areas mentioned were reported to the Home Office court proceedings database during the years 1997 to 2005.