Those under 16 who commit offences without aggravating factors can still expect to receive a caution, coupled with a referral to a knife education scheme to help them understand the dangers and consequences of carrying knives.

The government has unveiled a raft of proposals to tackle knife crime. These include youth offending teams working more closely with prisons to consider prison visits as a new element to youth referral orders in a bid to help bring home the potential consequences of being caught and prosecuted for knife crime.

The new sanctions follow a meeting between the Prime Minister, police chiefs and prosecutors to discuss new ways to crack knife crime.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It is completely unacceptable to carry a knife. Young people need to understand that carrying knives doesn't protect you, it does the opposite - it increases the danger for all of us, destroys young lives and ruins families."