Overall levels of violence in England and Wales are on decline despite the rise in knife crime.
Analysis by Cardiff University found admissions of patients injured in violent attacks dropped 1.7% in 2018. It indicates a rise in knife crime, gun crime and homicide recorded by police is not part of a wider upsurge.
The National Violence Surveillance Network (NVSN) survey has recorded a consistent downwards trend in violent crime since it was launched in 2002 although levels have remained stable in the recent years. Experts had analysed data collected from 126 accident and emergency department, minor injury units and walk-in centres across Wales and all nine regions of England. It was estimated that 187,584 people attended A&E with injuries sustained in violence in 2018, this is a decrease of 3,162 people from the previous year.
This year alone there has been 100 victims of violence which varied in all ages and genders. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, set up the Violent Reduction Unit in an attempt to tackle the trend of knife crime in London. The project brings together specialists from across the UK to tackle violent crime and its causes. An extra £100 million will be given to police forces to tackle knife crime.
The Ministry of Justice reported a total of 21,484 offences in England and Wales which is the equivalent of 59 every day. Figures show that 37% of all offences led to an immediate jail sentence.
Justice Minister Rory Stewart said: “Knife crime destroys lives and shatters communities, and this government is doing everything in its power to tackle its devastating consequences.
“Sentences for those carrying knives are getting tougher – they are more likely to be sent straight to prison – and for longer – than at any time in the last decade.”
