Number of homicides involving a knife in England and Wales 2008-2024
- statista.com
Updated Feb 10, 2025
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EmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista (2025). Number of homicides involving a knife in England and Wales 2008-2024 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/978830/knife-homicides-in-england-and-wales/Dataset updatedFeb 10, 2025Time period coveredApr 1, 2008 - Mar 31, 2024Area coveredEngland, WalesDescriptionIn 2023/24 there were 262 homicides involving a knife or other sharp instrument in England and Wales, compared with 243 in the previous reporting year. During the provided time period, knife homicides have fluctuated from a low of 186 in 2014/15 to the high seen in the 2017/18 reporting year.
Number of knife crime offences in London 2015-2025
- statista.com
- thefarmdosupply.com
Updated Aug 28, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista (2025). Number of knife crime offences in London 2015-2025 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/864736/knife-crime-in-london/Dataset updatedAug 28, 2025Time period coveredApr 1, 2015 - Mar 31, 2025Area coveredUnited Kingdom (England), LondonDescriptionThe number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 16,344 in 2024/25, compared with 15,016 in the previous year. This was the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London during this provided time period. Between 2015/16 and 2019/20, knife crime in London increased yearly, with a particularly large increase occurring between 2016/16 and 2017/18. A wider trend The increase in knife crime witnessed in London has occurred alongside a general increase in overall crime throughout England and Wales. In 2022/23, there were approximately 6.74 million crime offences across England and Wales, compared with just over four million ten years earlier. During a similar time period, the number of knife homicides also increased, and reached 282 in 2017/18, compared with 186 in 2014/15. Due to strict gun laws in the United Kingdom, firearms are rarely used to commit homicides, with knives or other sharp instruments being used in over 46 percent of homicides in 2023/24. Acid and moped attacks While knife crime in London has certainly been given a lot of attention by the British media, the increase in acid and moped attacks during the same time period also generated many headlines. In 2017, for example, there were 471 acid attacks recorded by the Metropolitan Police, compared with just 51 in 2007. Moped crime also reached high levels in 2017, with both types of crime declining to much lower levels by the early 2020s. Although overall crime in London continued to rise until 2019/20, this fell back during the COVID-19 pandemic, but by 2023/24, the number of crimes committed in the capital had exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Crime in England and Wales: Other related tables
- ons.gov.uk
- cy.ons.gov.uk
xlsxUpdated Jul 24, 2024ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteOffice for National Statistics (2024). Crime in England and Wales: Other related tables [Dataset]. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesotherrelatedtablesxlsxAvailable download formatsDataset updatedJul 24, 2024LicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionFirearms, knife- and sharp-instrument offences, offences involving a corrosive substance, hospital admissions for assault with sharp objects, fraud, offences flagged as domestic abuse-related, corruption, anti-social behaviour, perceptions, and non-notifiable incidents.
Historic police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables
- gov.uk
Updated Jan 30, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteHome Office (2025). Historic police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables [Dataset]. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesDataset updatedJan 30, 2025AuthorsHome OfficeDescriptionFor the latest data tables see ‘Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables’.
These historic data tables contain figures up to September 2024 for:
- Police recorded crime
- Crime outcomes
- Transferred/cancelled records (formerly ‘no-crimes’)
- Knife crime
- Firearms
- Hate crime
- Fraud crime
- Rape incidents crime
There are counting rules for recorded crime to help to ensure that crimes are recorded consistently and accurately.
These tables are designed to have many uses. The Home Office would like to hear from any users who have developed applications for these data tables and any suggestions for future releases. Please contact the Crime Analysis team at crimeandpolicestats@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Homicides by method of killing in England and Wales 2024
- statista.com
ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista, Homicides by method of killing in England and Wales 2024 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/288166/homicide-method-of-killing-in-england-and-wales-uk/Time period coveredApr 1, 2023 - Mar 31, 2024Area coveredUnited Kingdom, England, WalesDescriptionKnives or other sharp objects were involved in ** percent of homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, the most of any method of killing. Homicides which involved hitting or kicking without a weapon made up **** percent of homicides, while shootings were identified as the method in *** percent of homicides. Overall, there were *** homicides in this reporting year, which was slightly lower than in the previous year, when there were ***, but noticeably higher than in 2014/15, when there were ***. Firearm homicides rare in England and Wales In 2023/24, there were *** knife homicides in England and Wales, compared with *** in 2021/22, which was the highest figure recently. By comparison, homicides which involved the use of a firearm were far less common, with just ** in the 2023/24 reporting year. Due to strict gun laws and low levels of ownership, the UK contrasts starkly with the United States, which has struggled with high levels of gun violence. Although some specialist police officers in England and Wales are licensed to carry firearms, the majority of police officers are unarmed. In 2023/24, for example, there were just ***** armed police, out of around ******* police officers. Overall knife crime on the rise Like many other types of crime, knife crime offences in the ***** started to decline at the start of the decade before creeping up again from 2014 onwards, reaching almost ****** in 2019/20. In London, where much of the media’s attention on knife crime is focused, there were ****** knife crime offences alone in 2019/20. Although this fell during subsequent reporting years, which were influenced by COVID-19 restrictions, it remains to be seen if the trend will continue. In 2023/24, the number of knife offences in the capital was higher than in any other year since 2019/20.
Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: July to September 2022
- gov.uk
- s3.amazonaws.com
Updated Feb 16, 2023+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2023). Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: July to September 2022 [Dataset]. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/knife-and-offensive-weapon-sentencing-statistics-july-to-september-2022Dataset updatedFeb 16, 2023AuthorsMinistry of JusticeDescriptionContents
2. Knife and offensive weapon offences overview
5. Sentencing for repeat convictions of possession of a knife or offensive weapon
7. Future publications and contact details for any queries or feedback
This publication presents key statistics describing the trends in the number of offenders receiving cautions and convictions for
-
possession of an article with a blade or point
-
possession of an offensive weapon, or
-
threatening with either type of weapon
in England and Wales. Please note that cases still awaiting final decisions are no longer accounted for using estimation methodology. These are generally cases in the latest periods and are now counted as ‘other’ disposals until final decisions are made unless separately specified.
Accompanying files
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:
-
ODS format tables containing data on knife or offensive weapon offences up to the end of September 2022
-
An interactive table tool to look at previous offences involving possession of a blade, point or offensive weapon. The tool provides further breakdowns by gender, police identified ethnicity and prosecuting police force area. The data used in the tool is also included as a separate csv file.
-
An interactive https://moj-analytical-services.github.io/knife_possession_sankey/index.html" class="govuk-link">Sankey diagram looking at outcomes for offenders sentenced for these offences by whether or not they have a previous conviction or caution for possession of a blade, point or offensive weapon; which includes breakdowns by gender, age group and offence type.
This publication covers the period from year ending September 2012 to year ending September 2022. In the last three years of this period the work of the courts has been impacted by the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID pandemic, such as court closures and subsequent backlogs, and also industrial action by criminal barristers taking place between April 2022 and September 2022. This should be borne in mind when making comparisons.
Main points
Point Change Commentary The number of knife and offensive weapon offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) has decreased since year ending September 2021 but is still higher than at the very start of the pandemic. Decrease In year ending September 2022 19,378 knife and offensive weapon offences were formally dealt with by the CJS. This is a decrease of 5% since year ending September 2021, but is 6% higher than in year ending September 2020 which includes the lockdown at the very start of the pandemic. The proportion of offenders receiving an immediate custodial sentence for a knife and offensive weapon offence remained stable at 30% between year ending September 2021 and year ending September 2022. No Change This had been broadly stable at around 36%-39% between year ending September 2017 and year ending September 2020 but dropped to 30% in year ending September 2021 and remained stable over the following year. In this period there was a corresponding increase in the proportion of offenders receiving a suspended sentence. For 70% of offenders this was their first knife or offensive weapon offence. Decrease The proportion of offenders for whom this is their first knife or offensive weapon offence has been decreasing over the last decade, from 76% in year ending September 2012 to 70% in year ending September 2022 but has been roughly stable since year ending September 2017. The average custodial sentence received by offenders sentenced for convictions under Section 315 of the Sentencing Act 2020 wa Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables
- ons.gov.uk
- cy.ons.gov.uk
xlsxUpdated Jul 24, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteOffice for National Statistics (2025). Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables [Dataset]. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatablesxlsxAvailable download formatsDataset updatedJul 24, 2025LicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionPolice recorded crime figures by Police Force Area and Community Safety Partnership areas (which equate in the majority of instances, to local authorities).
London Knife Crime Ad Hoc
- gov.uk
- thegovernmentsays-files.s3.amazonaws.com
Updated Nov 14, 2024ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2024). London Knife Crime Ad Hoc [Dataset]. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/london-knife-crime-ad-hocDataset updatedNov 14, 2024AuthorsMinistry of JusticeArea coveredLondonDescriptionThis release is intended to provide transparency into those eligible for the Mayor of London Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) GPS knife crime pilot. The bulletin presents information on individuals convicted of knife crime offences in London and is split into two datasets to provide full coverage of those eligible.
Pre-release access
The ad hoc was produced and handled by the ministry’s analytical professionals and production staff. For the ad hoc pre-release access of up to 24 hours is granted to the following persons:
Deputy Director of Data and Statistics Prisons, Probation and Reoffending and Head of Profession for Statistics; Head of HMPPS Performance; Head of Community Performance; Senior Policy Advisor, Electronic Monitoring and Early Resolution Policy; Press Officer Number of knife crime offences in England and Wales 2010-2025
- statista.com
Updated Aug 7, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista (2025). Number of knife crime offences in England and Wales 2010-2025 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/827828/knife-possession-offences-in-england-and-wales/Dataset updatedAug 7, 2025Area coveredEngland, WalesDescriptionIn 2024/25, there were around ****** knife offences recorded in England and Wales, compared with *******in the previous reporting year.
Number of homicides in London 2015-2025
- thefarmdosupply.com
- tokrwards.com
- +1more
Updated Oct 2, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista Research Department (2025). Number of homicides in London 2015-2025 [Dataset]. https://www.thefarmdosupply.com/?_=%2Fstudy%2F55000%2Fcrime-in-london%2F%23RslIny40YoL1bbEgyeyUHEfOSI5zbSLADataset updatedOct 2, 2025AuthorsStatista Research DepartmentArea coveredLondonDescriptionThere were 104 homicides recorded by the police in London in the 2024/25 reporting year, compared with 116 in 2023/24. Prior to the most recent year, 2017/18 had the most homicides in London at 159, with the fewest occurring in 2016/17, when there were 107. Comparisons with the rest of the UK With a homicide rate of 11.6 per million people, London had the highest homicide rate among UK regions in 2024/25. On a more localized level, the Metropolitan Police of Greater London reported a lower homicide rate than other police force areas that cover major cities, such as Merseyside, while the highest homicide rate among UK police forces was in Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands. Across England and Wales as a whole, there were 535 homicides in 2024/25, compared with 567 in the previous year. Knives the most common weapon used In 2023/24 there were 262 homicides in England and Wales involving a knife or other sharp instrument. As a comparison, there were just 22 homicides caused by a firearm in the same reporting year. While guns are generally difficult to obtain in the United Kingdom, knives are far more prevalent and have become a major problem for the police, particularly in London. The number of knife crime offences in London rose from 9,752 in 2015/16 to 16,344 in 2024/25.
Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: October to December 2022
- s3.amazonaws.com
- gov.uk
Updated May 18, 2023+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2023). Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: October to December 2022 [Dataset]. https://s3.amazonaws.com/thegovernmentsays-files/content/185/1859660.htmlDataset updatedMay 18, 2023AuthorsMinistry of JusticeDescriptionContents
2. Knife and offensive weapon offences overview
5. Sentencing under the Sentencing Act 2020
7. Future publications and contact details for any queries or feedback
This publication presents key statistics describing the trends in the number of offenders receiving cautions and convictions for
-
possession of an article with a blade or point
-
possession of an offensive weapon, or
-
threatening with either type of weapon
in England and Wales. Please note that cases still awaiting final decisions are no longer accounted for using estimation methodology. These are generally cases in the latest periods and are now counted as ‘other’ disposals until final decisions are made unless separately specified.
Accompanying files
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:
-
ODS format tables containing data on knife or offensive weapon offences up to December 2022
-
An interactive table tool to look at previous offences involving possession of a blade, point or offensive weapon. The tool provides further breakdowns by gender, police identified ethnicity and prosecuting police force area. The data used in the tool is also included as a separate csv file.
-
An interactive https://moj-analytical-services.github.io/knife_possession_sankey/index.html" class="govuk-link">Sankey diagram looking at outcomes for offenders sentenced for these offences by whether or not they have a previous conviction or caution for possession of a blade, point or offensive weapon; which includes breakdowns by gender, age group and offence type.
This publication covers the period from 2012 to 2022. In the last three years of this period the work of the courts has been impacted by the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID pandemic, which led to court closures and subsequent backlogs, as well as any effects of the industrial action by criminal barristers taking place between April 2022 and October 2022. This should be borne in mind when making comparisons.
Main points
Point Change Commentary The number of knife and offensive weapon offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) has decreased since 2021 but is still higher than at the very start of the pandemic. Decrease In 2022 19,292 knife and offensive weapon offences were dealt with by the CJS. This is a decrease of 2% from 2021, and a decrease of 14% from 2019 before the pandemic; but is 4% higher than 2020 when the work of the courts was impacted by the restrictions imposed. The proportion of offenders receiving an immediate custodial sentence for a knife and offensive weapon offence fell from 38% in 2019 to 30% 2022. Decrease This had been broadly stable at around 37%-38% between 2017 and 2019 before falling over subsequent years to 30% in 2022. In this period there was a corresponding increase in the proportion of offenders receiving a suspended sentence from 20% in 2019 to 25% in 2022. For 70% of offenders this was their first knife or offensive weapon possession offence. Decrease The proportion of offenders for whom this is their first knife or offensive weapon possession offence has decreased over the last decade, from 75% in 2012 to 70% in 2022 but has been broadly stable between 71% and 70% since 2019. The average custodial sentence received by offenders convicted for repeat possession offences under Section 315 of the Sentencing Act 2020 was 7.7 months in 2022. Increase This had decreased from 7.8 months in 2019 to 7.4 months in both 2020 and 2021 but increased again in 2022. <a href="#contents" class="go
Knife crime sentencing - Dataset - data.gov.uk
- ckan.publishing.service.gov.uk
Updated Feb 9, 2010ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteckan.publishing.service.gov.uk (2010). Knife crime sentencing - Dataset - data.gov.uk [Dataset]. https://ckan.publishing.service.gov.uk/dataset/knife-crime-sentencing-england-and-walesDataset updatedFeb 9, 2010LicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionPolice National Computer
- w
Knife Crime Sentencing
- data.wu.ac.at
- data.europa.eu
htmlUpdated May 10, 2014+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2014). Knife Crime Sentencing [Dataset]. https://data.wu.ac.at/odso/data_gov_uk/MzgxYTcxNjAtM2Q4OS00NTUwLWI4OGUtNjMwODViMzU4ZjdlhtmlAvailable download formatsDataset updatedMay 10, 2014Dataset provided byMinistry of JusticeLicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionThe publication describes trends in cautioning and sentencing, probation supervision and prison population for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in England and Wales. It provides early indications of trends and is planned as a temporary release to cover the life and impact of the Tackling Knives Action Programme, which was launched to focus resources on rapid, intensive work in 10 areas of England and Wales to tackle knife crime.
Source agency: Justice
Designation: Official Statistics not designated as National Statistics
Language: English
Alternative title: Knife Crime
Number of homicides in England and Wales 2002-2025
- statista.com
- tokrwards.com
Updated Sep 2, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista (2025). Number of homicides in England and Wales 2002-2025 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/283093/homicides-in-england-and-wales/Dataset updatedSep 2, 2025Time period coveredApr 1, 2002 - Mar 31, 2025Area coveredWales, England, United KingdomDescriptionThere were 535 homicides recorded in England and Wales in 2024/25, the fewest number of homicides in a reporting year since 2013/14, when there were 533. Between 2002/03 and 2013/14, the number of homicides in England and Wales fell significantly before rising again in the late 2010s. This increase in homicides occurred alongside an increase in the overall number of crimes, with police officials linking this to long-term cuts to their manpower and resources. Knives involved in almost half of all homicides In the 2023/24 reporting year, homicides involving a sharp instrument were involved in 262 incidents, an increase on the previous reporting year, when there were 243 knife homicides. As a proportion of all homicides, sharp instruments were the main method of killing, and were used in 46 percent of all homicides in 2023/23. Firearm homicides are quite rare in England and Wales, with shooting homicides only accounting for 3.9 percent of all homicides in the same reporting year. Since 2011/12 there have been 369 firearm homicides in England and Wales, compared with 3,743 knife homicides in the same period. Homicide rate highest in Lincolnshire With 104 homicides, London was the UK region with the highest number of homicides in 2024/25, although it was behind several police areas when it came to the homicide rate. At 17.9 homicides per one million people, Lincolnshire Police had the highest homicide rate in England and Wales in 2024/25. When compared with the rest of the UK, the overall homicide rate in England and Wales was above that of Northern Ireland, but below that of Scotland. In all jurisdictions of the UK, the homicide rate is however far lower in the 2020s than it was during the 2000s.
Knife and offensive weapon sentencing statistics: October to December 2019
- gov.uk
- s3.amazonaws.com
Updated Mar 12, 2020+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2020). Knife and offensive weapon sentencing statistics: October to December 2019 [Dataset]. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/knife-and-offensive-weapon-sentencing-statistics-october-to-december-2019Dataset updatedMar 12, 2020AuthorsMinistry of JusticeDescriptionThis bulletin presents key statistics describing the trends in the number of knife or offensive weapon offences receiving cautions and convictions in England and Wales. This bulletin does not cover all knife or offensive weapon crimes (offences involving a knife or offensive weapon) as published by the Office for National Statistics.
The information presented combines all three types of knife or offensive weapon offences; possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place or on school premises; possession of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse in a public place or on school premises and offences of aggravated possession of a knife or offensive weapon.
Three extra documents accompany this bulletin:
-
An interactive table tool showing the criminal history of knife or offensive weapon offenders, giving breakdowns by prosecuting police force, gender and ethnic appearance as well as previous offences, disposal, age group and year.
-
An https://moj-analytical-services.github.io/knife_possession_sankey/index.html" class="govuk-link">interactive Sankey diagram (a type of flow diagram, in which the width of the arrows is shown proportionally to the number each represents) presenting information on outcomes and criminal history of offenders sentenced or cautioned for a knife or offensive weapon offence.
-
A complete set of tables.
The bulletin was produced and handled by the ministry’s analytical professionals and production staff. For the bulletin pre-release access of up to 24 hours is granted to the following persons:
Ministry of Justice:
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – covering youth justice; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – covering sentencing; Permanent Secretary; Minister and Permanent Secretary Private Secretaries (9); Special Advisors (2); Deputy Director for Bail, Sentencing and Release Policy; Head of Custodial Sentencing Policy Unit; Senior Policy Advisor, Custodial Sentencing Policy Unit; Head of Courts & Sentencing, Youth Justice Policy; Policy Advisor, Youth Sentencing; Head of News and relevant press officers (3).
Youth Justice Board:
Data Analyst, YJB Information and Analysis.
Home Office:
Home Secretary; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service; Minister Private Secretaries (4); Special Advisor; Assistant Private Secretary to the Special Advisors; Head of Weapons team, Serious Violence Unit; Head of Serious Violence Unit; Policy Advisor, Serious Violence Unit; Statistician, Violent Crime; and relevant press officers (2).
Cabinet Office:
Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; Principal Analyst, Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit.
Appendix tables: homicide in England and Wales
- ons.gov.uk
- cy.ons.gov.uk
xlsxUpdated Feb 6, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteOffice for National Statistics (2025). Appendix tables: homicide in England and Wales [Dataset]. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/appendixtableshomicideinenglandandwalesxlsxAvailable download formatsDataset updatedFeb 6, 2025LicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionFindings from the analyses based on the Homicide Index recorded by the Home Office, including long-term trends, sex of the victim, apparent method of killing and relationship to victim.
Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: July to September 2024
- gov.uk
Updated Feb 20, 2025+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Justice (2025). Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics: July to September 2024 [Dataset]. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/knife-and-offensive-weapon-sentencing-statistics-july-to-september-2024Dataset updatedFeb 20, 2025AuthorsMinistry of JusticeDescriptionDetails
This publication presents key statistics describing the trends in the number of offenders In England and Wales receiving cautions and convictions for:
- Possession of an article with a blade or point
- Possession of an offensive weapon, or
- Threatening with either type of weapon
Please note that cases still awaiting final decisions are no longer accounted for using estimation methodology. These are generally cases in the latest periods and are now counted as ‘other’ disposals until final decisions are made unless separately specified.
Accompanying files
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:
- ODS format tables containing data on knife or offensive weapon offences up to September 2024
- An interactive table tool to look at previous offences involving possession of a blade, point or offensive weapon. The tool provides further breakdowns by gender, police identified ethnicity and prosecuting police force area. The data used in the tool is also included as a separate csv file.
We regularly carry out work to improve our statistics and geography breakdowns, therefore please refer to the latest publication for the most up-to-date figures. The bulletin was produced and handled by the ministry’s analytical professionals and production staff.
Pre-release access
Prior to publication pre-release access of up to 24 hours was granted to the following persons:
Ministry of Justice:
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – covering sentencing; Permanent Secretary; Minister and Permanent Secretary Private Secretaries (x3); Special Advisors (x2); Director-General Policy: Prisons, Offenders and Analysis; Head of Sentencing Policy; Senior Policy Advisor, Custodial Sentencing Policy Unit; Policy Advisor, Custodial Sentencing Policy Unit; Head of Youth Justice Policy; Deputy Head of News and relevant press officers (x3).
Youth Justice Board:
Senior Communications Manager
Home Office:
Home Secretary; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime and Policing; Policy Advisor, Serious Violence Unit; Head of Media and relevant press officers (x1)
NI 028 - Serious knife crime rate
- data.europa.eu
- data.wu.ac.at
excel xlsUpdated Apr 26, 2021+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2021). NI 028 - Serious knife crime rate [Dataset]. https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/ni-028-serious-knife-crime-rate?locale=esexcel xlsAvailable download formatsDataset updatedApr 26, 2021Dataset provided byDepartamento de comunidades y gobiernos locales del Reino Unidohttps://gov.uk/mhclgAuthorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentLicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionNumber of serious violent offences are recorded by the police and involve the use of a knife or other sharp instrument.
- w
DCLG Data4NR: Knife and sharp instrument offences: Recorded crime by Police...
- data.wu.ac.at
- data.gov.uk
htmlUpdated Apr 19, 2014+ more versionsShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteHome Office (2014). DCLG Data4NR: Knife and sharp instrument offences: Recorded crime by Police Force Area [Dataset]. https://data.wu.ac.at/schema/data_gov_uk/NDFjYWI4NWQtZjFkMC00YzI4LWJlOWEtMWU4NTVhZThlNzJihtmlAvailable download formatsDataset updatedApr 19, 2014Dataset provided byHome OfficeLicenseOpen Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automaticallyDescriptionKnife and sharp instrument offences: Recorded crime by Police Force Area. Data4NR reference.
Knife assaults in prison in England and Wales 2005-2018
- statista.com
Updated Jul 11, 2025ShareFacebookTwitterEmailClick to copy linkLink copiedCiteStatista (2025). Knife assaults in prison in England and Wales 2005-2018 [Dataset]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/315178/number-knife-assaults-time-prisoners-in-england-and-wales/Dataset updatedJul 11, 2025Area coveredEngland, WalesDescriptionThis statistic shows the number of assaults involving a knife/blade in prisons in England and Wales from 2005 to 2018. The highest number of knife/blade assaults during this period was in 2017 with *** reported cases. This is significantly higher than the *** reported cases in 2005.
FacebookTwitterEmailIn 2023/24 there were 262 homicides involving a knife or other sharp instrument in England and Wales, compared with 243 in the previous reporting year. During the provided time period, knife homicides have fluctuated from a low of 186 in 2014/15 to the high seen in the 2017/18 reporting year.