Knife crime accounts for a small proportion of all recorded crime, but it's impact on society is significant. Beyond the numbers, knife crime can leave deep scars on communities.
To find out more about how to help protect your community from getting caught up in violent crime, and what to do if you suspect someone is carrying a knife, click here.
Young people and knife crime
According to the Youth Justice Board, in 2024, there were just over 3,200 knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children resulting in a caution or sentence. That's 6% fewer than the previous year, but 20% greater than 10 years ago. It is the sixth consecutive year-on-year decrease.
The majority (99.7%) of knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children were possession offences. The remainder were threatening with a knife or offensive weapon offences.
Young men are the most likely group to be involved in knife crime, both as victims and perpetrators.
Some of the increase in serious violence be attributed to drug-market violence and the growing phenomenon of ‘county lines’, where criminal gangs set up drug-dealing operations in places outside their usual operating area.