Knife crime has increased by 7% in the past year (to December 2023), according to the latest release from the Office for National Statistics, highlighting an alarming rise in violence across England and Wales. According to police records, there were 49,489 incidents involving a knife or sharp instrument between January and December 2023, compared to 46,153 the previous year. This surge indicates a concerning pattern in the frequency of knife-related crimes: a pattern which shows a consistent rise in knife crime since 2021.
There has also been a large 20% increase in robberies involving knives compared to the previous year.
Moreover, knife crime rates in England and Wales have surged by a staggering 81% over the course of the past decade. (From the Ben Kinsella Trust)
Question to Kier Starmer: What are your plans to stop this incredibly worrying trend? How will you stop these “zombie” knives being sold in online market places? (Some can even be found on sites like TEMU!)