THE family of knife crime victim Daniel Fox has commented on the latest figures showing that there were 361 first-time knife crime offenders in Merseyside last year.
Daniel Fox, from Thatto Heath, died on September 2, 2016, after he was fatally stabbed while out in St Helens town centre.
His death devastated his family, friends and the community.
Since then the family have launched a charity in his name called The Daniel Fox Foundation, which raises awareness of knife crime.
Recent data showed that nearly three-quarters of cautions or convictions for knife crime in Merseyside were handed to first-time offenders, new figures show.
Ministry of Justice figures show 361 first-time knife crime offenders in Merseyside went through the criminal justice system in the year ending September 2023.
They accounted for 72% of the total 501 criminals found guilty of knife and offensive weapon offences – up from 70% the year before.
Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said the high rate of first-time offenders reflects a need for "urgent action and a shift in focus".
He added: "While all knife crime is unacceptable, the high proportion of first-time offenders is a red flag. It exposes a cycle where people are often drawn into violence and face potentially life-altering consequences.”
The figures also show 17% of knife crime offenders in England and Wales last year were under 18 years old.
Of the offenders dealt with by Merseyside Police, 55 were children (11%).
Karl Ashton, Daniel Fox’s stepdad and leading member of The Daniel Fox Foundation, said: “The data from Merseyside is not good and I agree with Patrick in what he says, it should be a red flag to the authorities to see that more people are happy to pick up a knife.
“The problem is a societal one as in how and why the offenders think it is acceptable to carry a knife.
“But I also think that the criminal justice system plays a part in that the offenders are dealt with properly.
“In my experience, seven out of 10 people normally claim they carry for self defence/ protection. This is not acceptable and is avoidable in my opinion.
“More needs to be done to establish why the offenders are under threat, whether that be involved in crime or, which I believe is common these days, the young person may be facing issues, online or face to face.
“As parents, we do welcome the fact that the government has banned different types of bladed weapons, as Daniel was killed with a butterfly knife, also illegal but still accessible.
“More needs to be done surrounding changing of legislation, in our opinion it doesn't go far enough, particularly surrounding self-defence.”
The Daniel Fox Foundation work in primary schools with year 6, explaining why it is not acceptable to carry knives and engage with the students and explain the damage that carrying a weapon can do, not only if they use a weapon, but to themselves also, families and friends.
Overall, 32 per cent of knife crime offenders in Merseyside were given an immediate sentence while 33 per cent received a suspended sentence.
About 21 per cent of them were given community sentences and 1 per cent were cautioned.
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