Figures show that knife crime across England and Wales rose to record levels last year. Police recorded 40,829 offences involving knives or sharp instruments in 2018, this is up by 6% from the year before.
Office for National Statistics data shows cases of murder and manslaughter increased by 12%. There were 732 killing which was up from 655 in 2017, this is the highest number since 2008. However, overall levels of crime showed no significant change over the period.
The figures show these offences are continuing to rise and are at their highest level since 2011. They also show the rate of increase appears to be slowing. Offences rose 9% in the 12 months to September 2018 and 13% in the 12 months to June 2018.
The statistics were revealed the morning after an 18-year-old was stabbed to death in Birmingham and two men were left with life-threatening injuries in a knife attack in east London. Seven people were stabbed in seven hours in the capital on Tuesday.
The ONS statistics also showed a 11% rise in robbery both using knives and other violence plus a 2% rise in vehicle offences.
Out of 44 police forces, 42 recorded a rise in knife crime since 2011. Higher-harm types of violence tend to take place in concentrated metropolitan police areas such as London, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. More than 40,800 offences involving knives or sharp objects were reported across all the forces excluding Greater Manchester Police.
