MORE than 16,000 criminals caught with a knife in the last year have avoided going to jail, new figures show.

The Ministry of Justice has revealed just one in five people convicted of possession of a knife or offensive weapon were sent to prison in the last twelve months.

Between April and June this year, more than half the knife-carrying criminals were fined, cautioned, or ordered to do community service, and the trend has been little changed during the last couple of years.

The Enfield Independent launched the Don't Carry Don't Kill campaign in July, backing Enfield North MP Nick de Bois' call for six month mandatory prison sentences for under-18-year-olds caught carrying a knife.

The Government has promised mandatory jail terms for adults caught with knives, and we are urging ministers to extend this policy to include teenagers.

The MoJ figures show the average time spent in prison for someone jailed for having a knife is just 200 days, and only 12 per cent of those convicted will face a jail term of more than three months.

For 10-17-year-olds between April and June, 29 per cent were given a reprimand or a warning, and 56 per cent received a community sentence.

Just eight per cent of children caught with a knife were locked up.

The Enfield Independent launched its campaign days after two rival gangs carrying guns, machetes and hammers faced off in Hertford Road where a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the hand leaving him with a serious injury.

In April, 15-year-old Edmonton County School pupil Negus McClean was fatally stabbed in the chest in Bounce Road, apparently protecting his younger brother from hooded youths on mountain bikes.

And on August 17, 14-year-old Leroy James died in Ponders End Recreation Ground, having been stabbed once in the chest.

We believe stronger deterrents to community service, fines, and cautions are needed to tackle a knife culture which is blighting our community.