More criminals were sentenced or cautioned for knife and weapon offences in Cumbria in the year to March, new figures show.

Ministry of Justice figures show 160 knife and offensive weapon crimes resulted in a caution or sentence in Cumbria in the year to March – an increase of six percent on the year before.

This means there were 36 offences per 100,000 people in the area, up from 34 the year before.

The figure includes possession of, or threatening with, a knife or other offensive weapon, but do not include all offences, such as murder or assault. Across England and Wales, an estimated 21,325 knife and offensive weapon crimes resulted in a caution or sentence in the 12 months to March.

This was four percent fewer than the year before, but was still the third-highest annual figure since current records began in 2010.

Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said it is a welcome relief to see a small decrease in numbers in the last year. He added: “But we need to remember that these figures show that knife crime is still 53 percent higher than it was in 2014. "So sadly, knife crime has not gone away and we need to maintain the focus in tackling and preventing this heinous crime."

The figures cover just to the start of the coronavirus lockdown, but the MoJ said any impact on the data from the pandemic was likely to be small.

In Cumbria, 34% of offenders went straight to prison.

The MoJ said sentencing remains a matter for independent judges, but that threatening and repeat possession offenders should expect to go to prison. Justice minister Chris Philp said: “Knife crime is a devastating blight on too many communities and this government is determined to do everything it can to make our streets safer. “We are recruiting 20,000 more police officers, making it easier to use stop and search and ensuring the most violent offenders spend longer behind bars.”

Chief Inspector Ben Swinson Said: “Cumbria remains one of the safest places to live and knife crime within the area is low in comparison to other areas, but that does not mean we will be complacent. There has been an increase in knife crime offences which has been seen across all forces and Cumbria’s figures are in line with the national increase.

“The force has been prioritising all violent crime, including knife offences, and will continue to work with our partners in the criminal justice system."

“We continue to hold regular knife surrenders under the national Operation Sceptre which has seen hundreds of blades taken out of our communities and out of the reach of people who could use them to cause harm.”