Knife crime offences in England and Wales at 10-year high as PM calls for action

16 January 2020

The Mirror

There were 22,286 knife and weapon offences formally dealt with by the police and courts in England and Wales last year. This is a three per cent rise on the previous year

Knife crime is at a 10-year high in England and Wales, new figures show.

The number of offences dealt with by the justice system in the year ending September 2019 was the highest it has been in a decade. 

There were 22,286 knife and offensive weapon offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system in England and Wales last year, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics.

This is a three per cent rise on the previous year and the highest since September 2009 (26,364).

The figures follow Tuesday's announcement that the Prime Minister ordered all Whitehall departments to take action on tackling crime.

Boris Johnson told ministers every department should consider itself a criminal justice department as part of a drive to look at the "complex causes of crime" which would involve long-term reforms to improve health, social care, youth services and education.