Knife crime homicides fall to lowest level in 30 years, says Government
Knife-related homicides have fallen to their lowest level in 30 years, according to the Government, which says its efforts to tackle serious violence are beginning to deliver results.
The Home Office said knife homicides have fallen by 26 per cent since the Government took office, while overall knife crime is down by eight per cent. More than 15,000 knives and offensive weapons have also been seized since the launch of a national surrender scheme, taking the total removed from the streets to more than 63,000.
The figures form part of the Government’s wider ambition to halve knife crime within a decade, backed by increased neighbourhood policing, tougher penalties for carrying weapons and investment in prevention programmes.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the reductions showed “real progress” but stressed there was more work to do to tackle serious violence and protect communities.
The latest Office for National Statistics figures also show that police-recorded offences involving knives or sharp instruments fell by eight per cent in the year ending March 2026, while total homicides fell to their lowest level since current recording practices began in 2003.