Average jail sentences for handling an offensive weapon have risen to more than eight and a half months, according to new statistics released by the Scottish Government.
The Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts statistics show that average custodial sentences for handling an offensive weapon have risen 21% in 2008-09 and are now double the level they were in 2005-06. This means that jail terms for knife carrying have now increased by almost two-thirds over the past two years.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the sentences being handed down should be a wakeup call to young men and women - showing that the courts are treating the offence with the seriousness it deserves.
The statistics also reveal that the average length of prison sentences for all types of crimes in Scotland have increased. They rose by five percent in 2008-09 and are now at their highest level in a decade.
A total of 66% of offenders had at least one prior conviction, according to the statistics.
The statistics also show an ageing offending population last year. In 2007-08, 21% of offenders were under age of 21, in 2008-09 it was 19%. In 2007-08, 43% of offenders were over the age of 30, in 2008-09 it was up to 45%.
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