Knife Crime - Still a Serious Issue in the UK

Recent years have seen some fluctuation in UK knife crime but it is still a very serious issue, especially in urban areas. Read our latest blog to learn more.

Knife crime statistics for England and Wales have shown some fluctuation over recent years but while homicides are indicated to have decreased, overall knife crime offences are higher than in previous years.

Latest Knife Crime Statistics for England and Wales

In 2024 a total of 54,587 knife crime offences were recorded. This figure is 2% higher than 2023 but is notably lower than pre-covid numbers when 55,170 offences were recorded in 2019/20.

Notably, there were 216 knife enabled homicides in 2024, down by 16% from 258 in 2023. Both of these figures were significantly lower than the pre-covid figure of 265 in 2019/20.

Worryingly, robberies involving the use of a blade increased year on year from 22,189 in 2023 to 23,305 in 2024.

Threats to kill with a knife along with possession of a knife or sharp article both increased slightly in 2024.

Although urban areas tend to experience the highest rates of knife crime, many areas that previously experienced low rates of these crimes are now seeing increases.

The Metropolitan Police in London recorded 31% of the overall national total of these crimes in 2024. The West Midlands Police had the next highest knife crime rate accounting for around 9% of the national total and Greater Manchester along with West Yorkshire recorded 6% and 4% respectively of the national total.

What Factors Contribute to Knife Crime?

Knife crime is disproportionally prevalent in deprived and metropolitan areas with young males being the primary culprits. Some young people describe how they feel pressured to carry weapons, sometimes due to gang involvement and a desire to gain respect within these groups. A lack of support along with mental health challenges are also considered to be contributing factors.

Another important contributing aspect is the availability of these weapons. Knives can be easily acquired both online and directly from shops and market places. Dangerous knives are being sold on Tik Tok, Snapchat and many other online platforms, popular with young people.

Recent Knife Crime Incidents

In 2023 two 12 year old boys randomly attacked Shawn Seesahai with a machete and stabbed him to death in Wolverhampton. Initially sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, their sentences were reviewed and increased to 10 years. Police found the murder weapon used, under the bed of one of the boys when their address was searched.

In June 2025 Marcus Arduini Monzo was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He had murdered a 14 year old boy with a Samurai sword and injured five other people, including two police officers.

In January 2025 Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum term of 52 years in prison for fatally stabbing three children and wounding ten more at a Taylor Swift themed dance event in Southport.

These tragic incidents were widely reported in the mainstream media. But there continue to be many frightening knife crimes committed throughout the UK, often involving theft, that don’t always result in injury or widespread reporting.

For example, in January 2025 a male threatened a female shop worker in Newry, Northern Ireland, forcing her to open the till, enabling him to make off with a sum of cash. In Barnstaple, Devon, in May 2025, a suspect brandished a knife in a shop from which he stole four bottles of vodka. In Shoeburyness, Essex two masked men entered a Nisa convenience store in April 2025 and threatened staff with a knife. They stole both cash and alcohol but no injuries were reported. And in Bolton, Greater Manchester a group of three teenagers entered an off licence in January 2025 and one of the group waved a knife in the shopkeepers face while they stole cash from the till. They were caught and arrested shortly after the offence.

Sadly, reports like these are all too common. And its not only shops and shop workers who are targeted by knife wielding criminals. In London a 15 year old boy was threatened with a knife by a group in Hackney and in Manchester a Schoolboy was threatened by another teenager, brandishing a knife. And in Birmingham a taxi driver was threatened with a knife and robbed by a passenger.

Combatting Knife Crime

Knife crime is correctly recognised as a persistent problem in the UK. Failures in the Southport case (noted above) have prompted the home secretary, Yvetter Cooper, to announce legislation that will criminalise non-ideological planning of mass attacks, so these crimes are treated with the same severity as terrorism planning.

Knife amnesty schemes and surrender facilities are a key element of a National summer 2025 knife surrender campaign. Throughout July 2025, 37 new amnesty bins were placed in knife‑crime hotspots in Greater London, the West Midlands, and Greater Manchester. A roving “amnesty van” has also toured those regions, offering a secure, anonymous way to dispose of knives including soon-to-be‑banned ninja swords.

So called ‘ninja swords’ are set to be banned this month, preceded by the above mentioned surrender amnesty. The new law is to be named Ronan’s law in memory of Ronan Kanda who was killed in Wolverhampton on 29 June 2022. The current surrender scheme allows people to hand in swords, that fall within the new legislation, at specified police stations. 43 Police stations across England and Wales are accepting surrendered swords. Lawful owners of surrendered weapons can submit claims for compensation.

Some councils and police forces along with some hospitals have established permanent knife amnesty bins. St Georges Hospital in Tooting introduced the first NHS based bin which collected 87 weapons in the first six months. The surrendered weapons included machetes and zombie knives. There is limited data on the impact of these knife amnesty facilities on crime rates but they are widely recognised as beneficially contributing to awareness and community trust.

Some police forces are now using Metrasense Ultra search poles which can effectively detect small metallic objects, including razor blades. And as we have previously reported police forces have used metal detecting knife arches to raise raise awareness of knife carrying and deter crime.

How Metal Detectors are Keeping People Safe

While the details of knife discoveries via metal detecting arches at public events and locations aren’t widely publicised there have been a number of noteworthy incidents.

Since the 2017 Manchester Arena attack mandatory metal detector screening of event attendees has resulted in numerous knife discoveries including one case in which a man attempted to enter with a blade taped to his leg.

Some schools in relatively high risk areas now use handheld metal detectors in random searches of students. In 2023 a student in Croydon was found to have a knife hidden in their shoe.

Metal detector screening is now normal at large outdoor events like Reading festival where knives and other weapons were discovered during bag checks. And at the Wireless Festival in 2023 security staff found multiple knives carried by attendees attempting to enter the event in Finsbury Park.

Walkthrough metal detecting knife arches are now installed at some nightclubs. Multiple clubs in Birmingham have reported knife discoveries at entry points thanks to their enhanced metal detecting security.

Sports arenas and stadiums are also effectively employing metal detecting technology to help keep people safe. At a West Ham match in 2023 a man was discovered with a large knife hidden in his clothing.

If you have any questions about security metal detectors or knife arches, or if you have any special requirements, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 092920 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

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