Knife Crime Statistics
Understanding the data behind the crisis. Latest figures for England and Wales.
Updated as of May 2026
Knife Crime Data for England and Wales
Police-recorded offences involving knives or sharp instruments
9%
50,430
Police-recorded offences (YE Sept 2025)
1%
279
Homicides involving a knife (year ending March 2025)
Since 2016
40%
Increase in knife offences over last 10 years
Knife Crime Breakdown
Within the overall police recorded offences (up to June 2025)
18,795
Assault with injury and intent to cause serious harm
35% of all knife offences
15,110
Robbery offences involving a knife
28% of all knife offences
8,055
Threats to kill offences
15% of all knife offences
Murders Involving a Knife
Year ending March 2025
205
Total knife murders
In England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2025
22
Teenagers (13–19)
Knife/sharp instrument homicides; down from 54 the previous year.
Type of Sharp Instrument Used
Year ending March 2025
123
Kitchen knives
Most frequent murder weapon (44% of all knife homicides)
28
Machetes
Recorded as murder weapon
12
Zombie knives
Recorded as murder weapon
Hospital Admissions
NHS hospitals in England and Wales
3.2%
4,982
Hospital admissions
For assault by a sharp object (year ending June 2025)
3.2% decrease
Compared to previous year
First decrease in hospital admissions since 2020
Knife & Sharp Instrument Offences Trend (2020-2025 latest available)
- Offences
Mental Health Crisis Among Young People (2020-2025 latest available)
- Ages 7-16 (%)
- Ages 17-19 (%)
Your Donation Makes a Difference
Help us educate young people about the dangers of knife crime and support our vision: that no family or community should suffer the loss of a life to knife crime.
Donate Now