Knife-related crimes in England and Wales have increased by 4% in the past year, reaching a total of 50,510 incidents, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). While this marks a rise from the previous year, it still remains 3% lower than the peak in 2020.
A significant factor in this increase is the spike in robberies involving knives or sharp instruments, which surged by 13% from the previous year. Despite this rise, the numbers are still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Additionally, knife-enabled homicides saw a slight increase, with 233 cases reported in the year to March 2024. However, this figure remains below the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
These statistics highlight the ongoing issue of knife-related violence in the UK, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to address and reduce such incidents in society.