Teenger Ben Kinsella’s death in 2016 was just one of the many lives lost to knife crime in the UK, and now Metro can reveal that almost half of all murders in the UK in the last two years have been knife-related. (Picture: Getty/AP/PA)
Knife crime is a talking point all over the UK, whether it is mums who are scared that their sons are going to be killed, or schoolboys afraid that they will lose their friends, it impacts the lives of thousands each year.
Now Metro can reveal that almost half of all murders in the UK over the last two years have been due to stabbings or violent incidents with a blade.
Figures show that out of the 898 recorded murders in the UK over the last three years, 443 of these murders were committed using a knife, stabbing, or a sharp instrument, stats have shown.
Data gathered from Freedom of Information Requests (FOI) from 38 police forces across the UK between 2022-2024 has highlighted the worrying rise of knife crime.
The largest number of murders due to knife crime was in London, with 222 murders in the last two years, and of these 145 (65%) were due to a blade or sharp object.
Thames Valley Police reported the second highest, with 14 out of 23 murders (60.86%) in this timeframe were related to knife, stabbings and sharp instruments.
In the West Midlands, there were 74 recorded murders, 42 of them being related to stabbings, while in the north, Greater Manchester Police recorded 61 murders, with 22 of them (36%) due to a sharp object.
West Yorkshire Police data showed out of the 47 murder cases, 55% (26) involved in sharp object, and Bedfordshire Police data highlighted that 7 out of the 11 recorded murders involved stabbings (63.63%).
Ben Kinsella, 16,was stabbed 11 times in Islington, north London in 2008 while celebrating the end of his GCSEs(Picture: PA)
Data has shown there were more than 440 knife related deaths in the UK in the last two years (Picture: Getty Images)
Patrick Green, CEO of the Mark Kinsella Trust told Metro that a ‘systematic failure’ has lead to high numbers of knife crime (Picture: Linkedin)
Other findings showed that out of the recorded murders, 644 were males, and 245 females, accounting for 71.71% of murders that occurred in England.
This high number of male-on-male violence is something that has a ‘tragic impact’ according to Ellen Milazzo, Head of Homicide Service at Victim Support.
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She said that it is mainly women who use the specialist service to deal with knife related trauma, and added: ‘Whilst men are more likely to be murdered, it’s often women who are left managing the devastation of losing a loved one to homicide.’
While male-on-male violence is more common in the UK, violence against women is also on the rise, and Metro has recently launched a campaign to highlight this.
‘This is Not Right’ is a year-long Metro campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women that aims to also educate, engage and empower our readers on the issue.
Young people and knife crime
According to the figures, the highest number of young people killed in London due to knife crime was in the age range of 18–24-year-olds with 46 people killed over the last two years.
In West Yorkshire, there were four people under the age of 17, the youngest been a 10-year-old killed using a sharp object (knife included) in the set timeframe.
The data pointed out that the most common method of killing, for both male and female victims, was by a sharp instrument (including knives; 41%). Over the last decade, the proportion of homicide offences committed by a sharp instrument has fluctuated between 31% and 42% each year.
There were 244 homicides committed using a knife or other sharp instrument recorded in the year ending March 2023, a decrease of 13% compared with the previous year according to ONS data.
The data pointed out that the most common method of killing, for both male and female victims, was by a sharp instrument (including knives; 41%).
Over the last decade, the proportion of homicide offences committed by a sharp instrument has fluctuated between 31% and 42% each year.
There were 244 homicides committed using a knife or other sharp instrument recorded in the year ending March 2023, a decrease of 13% compared with the previous year according to ONS data.
The murder of Ben Kinsella
One of the most high profile murder cases over the last 20 years was that of Ben Kinsella in 2008.
Ben had been out at a local pub to celebrate the end of his GCSEs with his friends – but was chased down by another group of teenagers who stabbed him to death.
They were seeking revenge for an altercation in the club that had taken place earlier that evening, but Ben and his friends had absolutely nothing to do with the fight. When the older boys caught up with Ben, in an entirely unprovoked attack, they stabbed him to death.
Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust – a charity set up in his memory told Metro the data was ‘profoundly disturbing.’
Ben Kinsella with his sister Brooke(Picture: PA)
Jade Braithwaite was found guilty of the murder of Ben Kinsella.(Picture: PA)
Commander Steve Clayman is the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for knife crime (Picrure: LinkedIn)
Commander Stephen Clayman who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for knife crime
‘Knife crime continues to be a significant concern for both policing and society as a whole which is why we must work together with our partners in both government and the third sector to find solutions which tackle it from a number of different angles.
‘Education and diversion is extremely important, working with young people to understand why they carry knives in order to support them and help keep them safe.’
‘Supply and accessibility of knives has been a key focus in the National Police Chiefs’ Council knife crime working group, with knives far too easily available to purchase through online retailers and on social media. The Government recently announced additional measures for consultation around a ban on certain types of swords and fines for tech companies who don’t do enough to remove harmful content.’
What did Thames Valley Police say?
A spokesperson said: ‘Knife crime was at its peak nationally in 2020 and since then it has fallen 30% here in the Thames Valley (2019/2020 to 2023/2024 complete years).
‘It has fallen every complete year since then and continues to be on a downward trend for the current April – December period, down further 2% on the same period the year before.
The spokesperson added that, however, every loss of life is a tragedy with a profound impact on families and wider communities. This is why tackling serious violence and knife crime and doing everything we can to prevent such tragedies remains a force strategic priority.
They added: ‘It has been recognised nationally and within the Thames Valley that we cannot arrest our way out of the problem. We are a key member of the Violence Prevention Partnership and work with partners and our local communities to take a whole-system response, with equal importance placed on education, early intervention and diversionary schemes to tackle the root causes of violence. Through this, we aim to ensure knife crime continues to fall and we maintain the safety of the Thames Valley for all who live and work here.’
He added: ‘It underlines the urgent need for targeted interventions in these areas.’
‘The case of London, where nearly two-thirds of murders were knife-related, is particularly alarming. ‘It is now largely accepted that the police cannot simply arrest its way out of this problem and a lasting solution requires Government action to tackle the root cause of knife crime.’
Since 2022 (when the data was first released) a number of police forces have tried unique ways to try and tackle knife crime.
The Metropolitan Police had trialled Knife Crime Prevention Orders in dealing with Knife Crime since 2021. The court orders would prevent individuals as young as 12 from carrying knives.
They aren’t the only police force to try ingenuitive ways to tackle these issues.
Thames Valley Police – where there were 14 out of 23 knife murders in the last two years are members of the Violence Prevention Partnership where they work with partners and local communities to take a whole-system response, with equal importance placed on education, early intervention and diversionary schemes to tackle the root causes of violence.
The West Midlands Police Force have initiated Project Guardian Taskforce to combat knife violence. It is their specialist unit which tackles knife crime and youth violence with three teams operating across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Solihull. Taskforce officers are sent to locations which have a specific area at risk of under-25s serious violence.
However, it isn’t just about new ways to tackle the knife crime issues in the UK, with forces explaining they can’t ‘arrest their way’ out of the problem.
While there have been efforts to address knife crime, it’s clear that a systematic failure persists
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Commander Stephen Clayman who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for knife crime told Metro: ‘Knife crime continues to be a significant concern for both policing and society as a whole which is why we must work together with our partners in both government and the third sector to find solutions which tackle it from a number of different angles.
New figures have shown nearly half of murders in the UK are due to knife crime(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has spoken about how the government plans to takcle knife crime and wants to cut it in half over the next two years (Picture: EPA)
‘Education and diversion is extremely important, working with young people to understand why they carry knives in order to support them and help keep them safe.’
He added: ‘Supply and accessibility of knives has been a key focus in the National Police Chiefs’ Council knife crime working group, with knives far too easily available to purchase through online retailers and on social media.
‘The Government recently announced additional measures for consultation around a ban on certain types of swords and fines for tech companies who don’t do enough to remove harmful content.’
How is knife crime being tackled in the UK?
One of the biggest pushes to reduce knife crime was the government decision to ban Zombie style knives and zombie style machetes.
The knives were added to the list of prohibited offensive weapons from September 24th last year and Croydon, Sutton and Bromley police stations were amongst the 19 designated collection centres during the zombie knife amnesty period.
Commander Paul Brogden, leading the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: ‘We dedicate a large amount of resources to tackling knife crime.
‘Our activities include increased visible police patrols and weapons sweeps in impacted communities.
‘We target the drivers of violence such as drugs, and our local Safer School Officers work closely with community partners to deliver knife crime diversion workshops to educate young people about the consequences of carrying weapons.’
Commander Brodgen explained that knife crime, indeed, any violent crime, has a devastating impact on individuals, their families, and the wider community and remains a central focus for the Met working with the community and partners.
He said: ‘Information from the public about weapon carriers is critical, and we would urge anyone with any information, no matter how small, to contact Crimestoppers or Fearless anonymously. The information provided could save someone’s life.’
What is the next steps? And what does the government plant to do it the future?
The Home Office has established the Young Futures Delivery Unit which is working at pace to mobilise ‘Young Futures Prevention Partnerships’. They will establish a unit dedicated to preventing violent crime among young people to give teenagers the best start in life.
Commander Stephen Clayman, has been tasked with leading a rapid review to understand how these weapons are sold online and delivered to under 18s, identifying gaps in legislation and the most effective ways to stop this.
At the Labour Conference in September 2024, Home Office Secretary, Yvette Cooper said “We will make it a mission for our whole country to halve knife crime in a decade.”
The Labour Party have made it clear and simple in order to lower crime rates, “When you call the police, they should come. When you report a crime, it should be properly investigated. Justice should be delivered, and criminals should be punished.”
The government have promised tough new penalties for offenders, a specialist rape unit in every police force and a plan to get knives off the streets.
Yvette Cooper said: ‘The government’s Crime and Policing Bill would close a loophole on the sales of ninja and samurai swords, and jail tech company executives if banned zombie knives and machetes are sold on their platforms.’
A home office spokesperson told the Metro: ‘The new government has a mission to halve serious violence in a decade, this includes knife crime.
‘However, the data referred to is from the previous government. Since taking office, we have already implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, which came into force on 24 September, and it is now illegal to sell or own these weapons.’
The Home Office mentioned that for them to combat the unacceptable use of social media and online marketplaces to market illegal weapons and glorify violence, senior executives of social media companies will face personal fines if they fail to remove illegal content swiftly.
Patrick Green also echoed these thoughts and said: ‘While there have been efforts to address knife crime, it’s clear that a systematic failure persists.
‘A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively tackle this issue.
‘This includes investing in youth programs that provide positive alternatives to violence, such as sports, arts, and education.
‘But we must also look to increase access to mental health services for young people to address underlying issues that may contribute to violent behavior.’
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