FIRST time knife convictions and cautions have soared to a nine-year high, figures show.

Government figures show that 126 adults and children were sentenced or cautioned for a first knife or weapon offence in the year to June. It is the highest number since 2009.

They accounted for almost three-quarters of all knife-related cautions and convictions in the county. The figures are broadly in line with the national picture. Across England and Wales 14,200 first-time knife offenders received a conviction or caution in the year to June – the highest number since the 12 months to June 2011.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “There are many complex and different reasons why people carry knives and tackling it is not a simple task.

“It’s a police priority but a community problem – one we can only solve by parents, schools, the NHS and every one of us in society working together.

“Our knife crime figures maybe low compared to other parts of the country but we are never complacent. Wiltshire Police works hard in knife crime prevention as well as robustly dealing with anyone who carries and uses a knife, whatever their reason.”

Labour MP Sarah Jones, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on knife crime, said violent crime was now a national crisis following a rise in punishments for first-time knife offenders.

“What's especially concerning is the number of new knife offenders, some as young as 10 years old,” she said.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “Early intervention is a major part of this crucial work officers and partners do in trying to prevent knife crime – getting to the youngsters before they turn to use a blade for what they believe is protection.

“There is no one solution to rid our country and county of knife crime. We all need to take responsibility for the signs of knife crime in our communities – spot them early and ‘nip them in the bud’ before it becomes as so- called crisis.”

Knife offences are typically taken seriously by the courts. Those caught with a knife or another offensive weapon on a second occasion can expect a minimum prison sentence of six months.