On 18th July, Saturday, reports emerged that knife crime was at the highest levels in nearly a decade in England and Wales.
London reported a 28% annual rise in knife killings over the past year and offences involving knives or sharp instruments in England and Wales rose 6% to 46,265 in the year to March 2020. According to the Office for National Studies, this means that there was 51% spike higher than when comparable figures began in 2011. London, which accounted for just over a third of knife crime, saw a 7% rise in offences.
“The number of homicides involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument in London increased from 67 to 86, a 28% increase,” the ONS said.
While knife crime rose, there was a 4% decrease in firearms offences and a 9% decrease in burglary across England and Wales. Data for the city of Manchester in northwest England was excluded due to problems with a new computer system in the city.
There were 619 offences involving a corrosive substance - such as acid - the first time the figures have been published by the ONS.
