Knife Crime in England and Wales: Rising Trends and Awareness Initiatives

Strategic Insights -

The number of knife crime offences in England and Wales has reached a post-Covid high, with 54,587 incidents recorded by police forces in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023. Notably, the rise in police-recorded robberies involving a knife or sharp instrument contributed to this increase, with a 5% rise to 23,304 in 2024. Offences include knifepoint thefts of mobile phones and armed robberies in shops.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of knife crime offences in England and Wales reached a post-Covid high in 2024, with 54,587 incidents recorded by police forces.
  • The rise in police-recorded robberies involving a knife or sharp instrument contributed to the increase, with a 5% rise to 23,304 in 2024.
  • Offences include knifepoint thefts of mobile phones and armed robberies in shops.
  • In 2024, almost a third of all robberies involved a knife, with 23,304 incidents recorded.
  • The number of threats to kill offences involving knives rose 3% to 5,979, while murders with knifes dropped 16% to 216 in 2024.
  • The number of knife possession offences rose 1% to 28,150, higher than the pre-pandemic figure of 23,264 in 2019/20.
  • Last year saw a number of high-profile knife attacks in schools, including a 14-year-old sentenced to 15 years in detention for stabbing two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford School.
  • The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of knife crime offences in 2024, with 16,789 incidents, a 16% increase from 2023.

Statistics:

  • 54,587 knife crime offences were recorded in England and Wales in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023.
  • 23,304 police-recorded robberies involving a knife or sharp instrument rose 5% in 2024.
  • 1 in 3 robberies involved a knife in 2024, with 23,304 incidents recorded.
  • 5,979 threats to kill offences involving knives rose 3% in 2024.
  • 216 murders with knives dropped 16% in 2024.
  • 28,150 knife possession offences rose 1% in 2024.
  • 16,789 knife crime offences were recorded by the Metropolitan Police in 2024, a 16% increase from 2023.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • Office for National Statistics (ONS)
  • Axon
  • The Ben Kinsella Trust
  • University of Bristol
  • Parliament
  • Home Affairs Select Committee
  • Eastenders
  • Suffolk Police
  • PA Graphics
  • University of Bristol