Knife crime offences hit record high after 7% increase
The figures, for England and Wales, show there were 44,771 offences in the year to September.
Thursday 23 January 2020 11:13, UK
Knife crime offences hit a record high in the year to September, rising by 7% in England and Wales.
Offences recorded by the police reached 44,771, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
However, the number of homicides fell by 6%, from 654 to 617.
In addition, homicides in which a knife or sharp instrument was used dropped by a fifth to 221 offences, mainly because of a decrease in London.
The statistics do not include Greater Manchester Police, which records data differently.
It was revealed last week that the police and courts in England and Wales are dealing with the highest number of knife crimes in a decade.
The ONS said the number of crimes of violence against a person in the year to September rose by 12% to just over 1.6 million.
Vehicle offences were up 4%, while burglaries dropped by the same amount.
In total, police-recorded crime rose by 7% to almost 5.8 million offences.
Helen Ross, from the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said that "overall levels of violence" had remained "steady".
She added: "Although the number of offences involving a knife has continued to increase, there is a mixed picture across police forces."
Reacting to the news, Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan said knife crime was part of a "much wider, complex problem".
He added: "The government needs to work with children's services, charities, social workers, youth workers, the criminal justice system and communities to tackle this crisis."
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced in late December that police and crime commissioners were being given an extra £35m to tackle violent crime.
Nearly half of those charged with London knife killings over the past three years have previously committed an offence involving a blade.