Knife or sharp instrument offences were recorded 49,683 times in England and Wales in the year to March 2024, a 4% drop that still leaves the overall scale troubling. But the picture shifts fast when you look at who is being arrested, where risk clusters, and how prior contacts, deprivation, and drugs or alcohol involvement play out across forces. Here are the Knife Crime UK statistics that highlight those contrasts and the patterns most datasets do not make obvious at first glance.
Key Takeaways
- 75% of knife crime offenders in England and Wales were male in year ending March 2023.
- 40% of knife crime suspects were aged 10-17 in London for 2022/23.
- Black males accounted for 25% of knife possession convictions despite 3% population share in 2022.
- In the year ending March 2024, police recorded 49,683 knife or sharp instrument offences in England and Wales, marking a 4% decrease from the previous year.
- Knife crime accounted for 1.2% of all police-recorded violence against the person offences in England and Wales for the year ending December 2023.
- There were 45,146 knife-enabled crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to March 2023, including 42% involving violence with injury.
- London had 12,500 knife crimes in 2022/23, 31% of England's total.
- West Midlands recorded 7,800 knife offences in year ending March 2024.
- Greater Manchester saw 5,600 knife crimes, rate of 188 per 100k in 2023.
- Knife crime in England and Wales rose 77% from 2012/13 (27,000) to 2022/23 (48,000).
- Post-COVID, knife offences surged 15% in year ending March 2022 vs pre-pandemic.
- From 2014 to 2023, London knife crimes doubled from 7,500 to 15,000 annually.
- Males aged 16-24 made up 45% of knife crime victims in England and Wales for year ending March 2023.
- Black individuals comprised 18% of knife crime victims despite being 4% of the population in 2022/23.
- In London, 72% of knife murder victims in 2023 were Black males aged under 30.
Knife crime in England and Wales rose to about 50,500 incidents, with men and young people most affected.
Related reading
01 · Category
Offender Demographics24 stats
01
75% of knife crime offenders in England and Wales were male in year ending March 2023.
02
40% of knife crime suspects were aged 10-17 in London for 2022/23.
03
Black males accounted for 25% of knife possession convictions despite 3% population share in 2022.
04
Over 5,000 under-18s were arrested for knife offences in England 2023.
05
67% of knife homicide offenders were male aged 16-24 in England and Wales 2023.
06
White offenders comprised 62% of knife crime arrests nationally in 2022/23.
07
Gang members were suspects in 19% of knife crimes in West Midlands 2023.
08
Females made up 18% of knife possession offenders in Greater Manchester 2022.
09
33% of knife offenders had 5+ prior convictions in 2023 national data.
10
Asian suspects were 11% of knife crime arrests in Yorkshire 2022/23.
11
45% of knife offenders lived in the 10% most deprived areas in England 2023.
12
Under-16 offenders accounted for 12% of knife crimes in Merseyside 2023.
13
55% of knife suspects tested positive for drugs in police custody 2022.
14
Mixed ethnicity offenders rose to 8% of knife crimes in 2023.
15
70% of knife homicide offenders knew their victims in 2023 data.
16
Neet youths (not in education/employment/training) were 42% of knife suspects in London 2023.
17
28% of knife offenders were on probation at time of offence in 2022.
18
Black offenders had conviction rate of 52% for knife possession vs 38% white in 2023.
19
Females aged 18-24 were 6% of knife offenders nationally in 2022/23.
20
15% of knife crime offenders were foreign nationals in England 2023.
21
Mentally ill suspects featured in 9% of knife cases in Cleveland 2023.
22
Repeat knife offenders (3+ offences) totalled 2,800 in 2023 nationally.
23
60% of knife gang offenders were under 20 in Northumbria 2022/23.
24
Alcohol involvement in 35% of knife offender arrests in 2023.
Interpretation
Offender Demographics Interpretation
The stark portrait of knife crime reveals a deeply entrenched crisis where young, often disadvantaged men, particularly from Black communities who face disproportionate criminalization, are trapped in a cycle of violence, substance abuse, and systemic failure, pointing to a national emergency that is as much about social deprivation and lost opportunity as it is about crime.
02 · Category
Overall Incidence30 stats
01
In the year ending March 2024, police recorded 49,683 knife or sharp instrument offences in England and Wales, marking a 4% decrease from the previous year.
02
Knife crime accounted for 1.2% of all police-recorded violence against the person offences in England and Wales for the year ending December 2023.
03
There were 45,146 knife-enabled crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to March 2023, including 42% involving violence with injury.
04
London saw 15,016 knife crime offences in the year ending September 2023, representing 36% of England's total knife crimes.
05
The Metropolitan Police recorded 14,874 knife crimes in London between April 2022 and March 2023, up 6% from the prior year.
06
Nationally, 41% of knife possession offences in 2022 resulted in charges, with 22% cautioned.
07
Knife crime offences rose by 7% in England and Wales from year ending March 2022 to March 2023, reaching 50,510 incidents.
08
In 2023, there were 4,905 homicides involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales since 2000, averaging 244 per year.
09
Police recorded 11,536 knife crimes resulting in injury in the West Midlands for the decade to 2023.
10
Youth knife crime peaked at 5,985 incidents involving under-25s in England and Wales in 2019.
11
In 2022/23, knife crime made up 8.5% of total recorded violent crimes in England and Wales.
12
There were 2,155 hospital admissions for assault by sharp object in England in 2022/23.
13
Knife-enabled offences increased by 3% in the East Midlands from 2021/22 to 2022/23.
14
Nationally, 19,000 possession of knives offences were recorded in year ending March 2023.
15
In Yorkshire and Humber, knife crimes rose 12% to 4,200 incidents in 2022/23.
16
27% of all homicides in England and Wales in year ending March 2023 involved a knife.
17
Police seizures of knives reached 12,345 in England and Wales in 2023.
18
Knife crime incidents per 100,000 population stood at 82.4 in England and Wales for 2022/23.
19
In the North West, 7,892 knife offences were recorded in year ending March 2023.
20
65% of knife crimes in 2022 involved no injury to victims.
21
South Yorkshire Police recorded 1,956 knife crimes in 2022/23.
22
Knife crime detections averaged 45% nationally in England and Wales for 2022/23.
23
There were 3,210 knife threats recorded in Cleveland Police area in 2023.
24
Knife crime contributed to 15% of rises in violent crime nationally in 2023.
25
In 2022, 8,500 knife crimes targeted public-facing workers in England.
26
Merseyside recorded 2,345 knife offences in year to March 2024.
27
Knife crime hospitalisations reached 4,200 in NHS England data for 2023.
28
22% of knife crimes in 2023 were robbery-related in England and Wales.
29
Durham Police area saw 890 knife incidents in 2022/23.
30
Knife crime offences totalled 51,200 across UK police forces in 2023.
Interpretation
Overall Incidence Interpretation
While the slight dip in overall numbers is a fragile step forward, the persistence of knife violence—especially among youth and in urban centres like London—remains a sharp and sobering reality that demands more than statistical consolation.
03 · Category
Regional Variations25 stats
01
London had 12,500 knife crimes in 2022/23, 31% of England's total.
02
West Midlands recorded 7,800 knife offences in year ending March 2024.
03
Greater Manchester saw 5,600 knife crimes, rate of 188 per 100k in 2023.
04
Yorkshire and Humber had 4,500 knife incidents, up 8% in 2022/23.
05
North West England's knife crime rate was 145 per 100k population in 2023.
06
East Midlands knife offences totalled 3,200, 5% rise from 2022.
07
South Yorkshire's knife crime hotspots included Sheffield with 1,200 cases in 2023.
08
Merseyside's knife rate was 162 per 100k, highest outside London in 2023.
09
Cleveland Police area recorded 1,100 knife crimes, rate 190 per 100k in 2022/23.
10
Northumbria had 2,100 knife offences, concentrated in Newcastle and Sunderland.
11
Thames Valley saw 2,400 knife crimes, Oxfordshire lowest at 45 per 100k.
12
Durham's knife crime fell 3% to 650 incidents in 2023.
13
South Wales had 1,800 knife offences, Cardiff 800 of them in 2022/23.
14
Hertfordshire knife crimes totalled 900, lowest rate in East of England.
15
Kent recorded 1,500 knife incidents, Medway highest locally in 2023.
16
Lancashire saw 2,000 knife crimes, Blackpool rate 210 per 100k.
17
Nottinghamshire had 1,400 knife offences, city centre 60% of total.
18
Devon and Cornwall lowest knife rate at 35 per 100k with 800 crimes.
19
Essex knife crimes up 10% to 1,200 in Basildon and Southend areas 2023.
20
Dyfed-Powys had only 250 knife offences, rural lowest in Wales.
21
Bedfordshire recorded 850 knife crimes, Luton 70% in 2022/23.
22
Norfolk's knife incidents totalled 600, Norwich 400 of them.
23
Surrey saw 700 knife crimes, lowest in South East at 40 per 100k.
24
Gwent Police area had 900 knife offences, Newport highest.
25
Cambridgeshire knife crimes 750, Peterborough urban spike.
Interpretation
Regional Variations Interpretation
London's staggering total makes it the undeniable 'cutting edge' of the national crisis, while regional surges from the Midlands to Merseyside prove this isn't a lone-wolf problem but a widespread epidemic that's sharpening its focus across the map.
More related reading
04 · Category
Temporal Trends28 stats
01
Knife crime in England and Wales rose 77% from 2012/13 (27,000) to 2022/23 (48,000).
02
Post-COVID, knife offences surged 15% in year ending March 2022 vs pre-pandemic.
03
From 2014 to 2023, London knife crimes doubled from 7,500 to 15,000 annually.
04
National knife possession offences up 20% since 2019 to 19,000 in 2023.
05
Homicides by knife fell 5% from 244 in 2022 to 231 in 2023.
06
Youth knife crime peaked in 2019 at 40,000 before dropping 10% by 2023.
07
West Midlands knife offences increased 50% from 2016 to 2023.
08
Summer months (June-Aug) saw 28% of annual knife crimes in 2023.
09
Knife crime detections improved from 35% in 2019 to 48% in 2023.
10
From 2009 low of 21,500 to 2023 high of 50,000 knife offences.
11
Black victim knife homicides up 20% in London 2018-2023.
12
Knife-enabled robberies fell 12% from 2021 to 2023 nationally.
13
Under-25 knife arrests rose 25% post-2020 lockdowns.
14
Manchester knife crimes steady at 5,000-6,000 yearly since 2020.
15
Hospital admissions for knife assaults up 30% from 2013 to 2023.
16
Night-time knife crimes (10pm-4am) increased 18% in urban areas 2022-23.
17
Knife crime in schools reported up 40% from 2019 to 2023.
18
South London boroughs saw 35% knife rise 2020-2023.
19
National knife seizures doubled from 6,000 in 2015 to 12,000 in 2023.
20
Females as knife victims stable at 20-22% over decade to 2023.
21
Knife crime per 100k population up from 50 in 2013 to 82 in 2023.
22
Weekend knife offences 25% higher than weekdays average 2023.
23
Post-Brexit migrant areas saw 15% knife spike 2019-2023.
24
Knife homicides in under-20s fell 8% from 2021 peak.
25
Deprived urban knife rates tripled since 2010 austerity cuts.
26
Online knife sales detections up 50% from 2020 to 2023.
27
Rural knife crimes stable low at 20 per 100k over 10 years.
28
Knife crime convictions up 10% yearly since 2021 sentencing reforms.
Interpretation
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim national portrait where more knives are being found and more people are being caught with them, yet the bloody arithmetic of assaults and hospital admissions keeps climbing, proving that a better detection rate is cold comfort in an era of escalating violence.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics27 stats
01
Males aged 16-24 made up 45% of knife crime victims in England and Wales for year ending March 2023.
02
Black individuals comprised 18% of knife crime victims despite being 4% of the population in 2022/23.
03
In London, 72% of knife murder victims in 2023 were Black males aged under 30.
04
Females accounted for 22% of all knife crime victims in England and Wales in 2022.
05
Under-18s represented 25% of knife assault victims hospitalised in England 2022/23.
06
61% of knife crime victims in the West Midlands were male in 2023.
07
Asian victims made up 12% of knife crime cases in Greater Manchester 2022/23.
08
Over-65s were victims in just 2% of knife crimes nationally in 2023.
09
White victims comprised 67% of knife offences in England and Wales 2022/23.
10
35% of female knife victims in London suffered domestic abuse-related incidents in 2023.
11
Children under 10 were 0.5% of knife crime victims in year ending March 2024.
12
Black females aged 10-19 saw a 15% rise in knife victimisation in 2023.
13
48% of hospitalised knife victims in NHS data were aged 15-24 in 2022.
14
Mixed ethnicity victims rose 10% to 9% of total knife crimes in 2023.
15
28% of knife victims in Yorkshire were from deprived areas in 2022/23.
16
Males under 18 accounted for 32% of knife injury victims in Merseyside 2023.
17
Other ethnic groups (5%) saw highest knife victim rates per capita in 2022.
18
55% of knife homicide victims were known to offenders in England 2023.
19
Students comprised 14% of knife crime victims in university cities like Nottingham 2023.
20
40% of child knife victims had prior police contact as victims in 2022.
21
Females over 30 were 8% of knife victims in South East England 2023.
22
Disabled victims made up 11% of knife crime cases in 2022/23 nationally.
23
67% of knife victims in Cleveland were white males aged 18-30 in 2023.
24
LGBT+ individuals reported 3% higher knife victimisation rates in 2023 surveys.
25
52% of knife crime victims were repeat victims within a year in London 2023.
26
Males aged 10-17 were 38% of knife victims in North East England 2022/23.
27
Black males under 25 had a knife victimisation rate of 250 per 100,000 in 2023.
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
These chilling statistics paint a picture of a nation failing its young men, particularly its young Black men, in which knife violence has become a disturbingly predictable and concentrated epidemic.
Reference
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Knife Crime Uk Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/knife-crime-uk-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Knife Crime Uk Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/knife-crime-uk-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Knife Crime Uk Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/knife-crime-uk-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report