What proportion of people convicted of carrying a bladed or pointed instrument in the last year has (a) a previous conviction, (b) a previo…

The available information is given in the following table.
The crime category for handling an offensive weapon includes the offences of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, possession of an offensive weapon and restriction of offensive weapons. Over the last three years overall, the type of weapon has been recorded with around two-thirds of offences. Where the type of weapon has been recorded, for the offence of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, 90 per cent of the weapons are knives, and, for the offence of possession of an offensive weapon, 22 per cent of weapons are knives. There were no main offences of restriction of offensive weapons in 2008-09.
Individuals with a Charge Proved for Offensive Weapon Offences1, 2008-09
Offence
| Individuals with a charge proved
| Individuals with a charge proved for any previous offence
| Individuals with one previous charge proved for the same offence
| Individuals with more than one previous charge proved for the same offence

Possession of an offensive weapon
| 1,625
| 1,155
| 243
| 116

Having in a public place an object with a blade or point
| 1,790
| 1,351
| 277
| 165

Total
| 3,415
| 2,506
| 520
| 281


Offence
| % Individuals with a charge proved for any previous offences
| % Individuals with one previous charge proved for the same offence
| % Individuals with more than one previous charge proved for the same offence

Possession of an offensive weapon
| 72
| 15
| 7

Having in a public place an object with a blade or point
| 75
| 15
| 9

Total
| 73
| 15
| 8

Note: 1. Where main offen