The maximum punishment on conviction for selling a knife to a young person under age is six months imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. As of 1 October 2007, the definition of a young person was amended from anyone under the age of 16, to under the age of 18.
In each of the last 10 years, no one who was sentenced for selling a knife to a young person received the maximum sentence. Statutory maximums should be seen as just that: maximums, and reserved solely for the most serious of offenders and offences. The majority of offenders will, quite rightly, not be eligible for such a sentence.
Statistics on knife crime were published in annex A of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/09 “Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2008”, published on 22 January 2009. A copy of the publication is available at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0109.pdf