'Soft' sentences for knife crime despite Chris Grayling pledge
Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, has expressed his concern about knife criminals being handed cautions and other non-custodial punishments, but new figures published on Thursday showed repeat offenders are still avoiding jail.

Out of 1,331 offenders convicted of possessing a knife in the year to the end of March - who had at least two previous convictions for the same offence - only 703 went straight to prison.

The rest were handed community sentences or even a “slap on the wrist”, with 25 receiving a caution, 35 an absolute or conditional discharge from court and 29 getting a fine. ...