THE maximum sentence for someone caught in possession of a knife has just been doubled from two years to four years.

The change comes after the introduction of the Violent Crime Reduction Act, which was given royal assent in November last year.

A Home Office spokesman said knife crime formed seven per cent of all violent crime in England and Wales, with knives and sharp instruments involved in one third of all homicides.

As well as the increase in sentence that can be handed out by judges, from this month it is also an offence to use someone to mind a weapon on your behalf. From May teachers will be given the power to search pupils who are feared to be carrying weapons.

From October the age of a person allowed legally to buy a knife will increase from 16 to 18.

Last year 90,000 knives were taken out of circulation during a national knife amnesty.

£500,000 has just been made available to community groups across the UK who are working to tackle gang, gun and knife crime.