Knife crime cases in England and Wales have fallen by 6% in a year, with overall violent crime down by more than a third in a decade, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The data shows there were 48,615 reported knife crime cases in the 12 months to June, down from 51,567 a year earlier and 54,659 the year before the general election. Knife-related killings are down by 25% and hospital admissions due to blade injuries have fallen 13% since Labour came to power in 2024.
Fall in homicides and robbery
The ONS figures also show homicides fell by 1% compared to the previous year, while robbery of personal property was down by 7%. Overall violent crime has fallen by more than a third in a decade.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones welcomed the figures, telling The Mirror: "This government has committed to halving knife crime in a decade. Today's new figures show how far we have come already.
"Knife homicides have fallen by a quarter since the general election. That is change that matters. Every percentage point is a young person kept safe, a family spared heartbreak and a community better protected from violence."
Regional reductions
In London knife crime dropped by 12%, while Greater Manchester recorded a drop of 16% and in the West Midlands the number fell by 14%.
Jones attributed the progress to government action, saying: "Change like this doesn't happen by accident. Our progress is the result of determined action by police forces, local partners and communities, backed by this Government's commitment to tackling violence and knife crime. Through targeted hotspot policing and action against the most harmful offenders and gangs, we are taking knives off our streets and bringing offenders to justice."
Rise in domestic abuse and fraud
However, the data shows a significant increase in the number of adults experiencing domestic abuse, with 9.6% of over-16s in England and Wales victims in the year to March - around 4.7 million people. Statisticians also estimate one million people experienced sexual victimisation.
Katie Kempen, chief executive at charity Victim Support, said: "The rise in partner abuse in the last year is a huge concern and should be a stark wake-up call. These figures show the government's laudable aim of halving violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade is at risk, and may not be realised without bolder action and sustained investment across all parts of the criminal justice system."
There were also an estimated 4.5 million fraud cases - an 11% year-on-year rise, driven by a 13% increase in bank and credit account fraud, which accounted for 2.8 million incidents.
The Home Office said: "This government is alive to the challenge posed by fraud and is investing £250 million to combat it over the next three years. This includes a £31m investment for a new Online Crime Centre, combining the data, expertise and capabilities of the police, GCHQ, banks, telecommunications and tech firms."
Jones added that the government will continue its efforts, saying: "To tackle knife crime, you have to tackle the causes of knife crime too. To achieve lasting change we must give young people positive alternatives and identify those at risk before they become victims or offenders. That is why our Plan to Halve Knife Crime combines strong policing with prevention, early intervention and support for young people."
