Knife offences have hit a ten-year high but the number given jail sentences has fallen, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures.

The number of offences for knife and offensive weapons rose by three per cent to 22,286, the equivalent of 60 a day and the highest number since 2009 when there were 26,364.

The increase was driven by knife possession offences which hit 14,135, the highest number since figures were first compiled in 2009.

However, despite the rise, the number of weapons possession offences resulting in immediate custody dropped to 7,728 from 8,050 the previous year. The proportion of repeat offenders given jail sentences also fell slightly.

According to the MoJ figures, more than a third of repeat knife offenders escaped an immediate jail sentence despite laws requiring courts to impose a custodial sentence for anyone convicted of a second or subsequent offence involving possession of a knife or offensive weapon.

Some 64 per cent of repeat offenders received a jail sentence and a further 18 per cent received a suspended sentence. This is up from 48 per cent who got a jail term in the year to September 2014.