A knife amnesty was brought in on 24 May

New Home Secretary John Reid met his junior ministers on Thursday to discuss the current nationwide knife amnesty.

It comes amid speculation that Mr Reid is considering raising the maximum jail term for possessing knives.

Officials said decisions on sentencing would be made before new legislation returns to the Lords.

The Violent Crime Reduction Bill may not have its report stage until after Parliament's summer break.

Under the current plans, the bill will raise the minimum age for buying knives from 16 to 18 but campaigners want stronger penalties.

'Culture change'

A Tory amendment to increase the penalty for carrying knives without reasonable excuse from two years to five years in prison was defeated in the Commons last year.

The current maximum penalty for possessing an offensive weapon is four years in jail.

As well as sentencing, Mr Reid has asked his officials to look at education programmes and enforcement action once the current knife amnesty ends.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The amnesty is one of many tactics the government is using to tackle knife crime.

"It will take thousands of weapons off the streets and start a cultural shift where many people will realise that carrying a knife is not acceptable and might result in them having their own knife turned back on them.

"Ministers want this education push to continue in the months and years following the amnesty."

The fatal stabbing of young footballer Kiyan Prince outside his London school is among the headline-grabbing cases which has increased pressure on ministers on knife crime.