Bloodiest year on record: Knife crime soars to highest ever level with 45,627 offences in 2019 – 125 a DAY – but criminal charges are DOWN by 12%
- ONS figures show police recorded 45,627 knife-related offences last year
- This was 49 per cent higher than when comparable recording began in 2011
- London is the knife capital of the UK, with 15,492 recorded knife offences
The number of recorded knife crimes in England and Wales soared to its highest ever level in 2019, with a third of all offences recorded in London.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics today show that police recorded 45,627 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.
This is an average rate of 125 knife crimes per day between last January and December – 49 per cent higher than when comparable recording began in 2011.
In England and Wales last year, there were 435 attempted murders involving a knife or a sharp instrument, and 4,151 threats to kill involving a knife.
20,196 cases of assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm with a knife, and 19,943 cases of robbery, were recorded.
The number of recorded knife crimes in England and Wales has soared by 7 per cent to its highest ever level, with nearly half of all offences in London (stock image)
Meanwhile there were 660 recorded cases of rape and sexual assault involving a knife, and 242 cases of knife-related homicide.
London is the knife capital of the UK, with 15,492 police-recorded knife offences. The West Midlands is in second place with 5,200 knife crimes.
The total number of robberies soared 12 per cent to 83,930 while the total number of homicides rose by 2 per cent to 670 last year.
But burglary was down 7 per cent (366,718), while theft fell 9 per cent (3,402,000).
The figures do not include Greater Manchester Police, who record data differently.
MailOnline has approached the Home Office for comment.