Knife crime offences (England and Wales)

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), using Home Office police recorded crime, series Police recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, selected offences. Quarterly in the ONS Crime in England and Wales bulletin; the year ending March 2026 figures were published on 23 July 2026 and the next bulletin is due on 22 October 2026. Force-level figures are in the police force area data tables

What it measures

This is the number of selected offences recorded by police in England and Wales in which a knife or sharp instrument was used to injure, used to threaten, or was believed to be present. The offences covered are mainly assaults and robbery, plus a smaller number of homicides, attempted murders, rapes and sexual assaults. Possession of a knife is a separate offence and is not included. Most forces now identify knife involvement using the National Data Quality Improvement Service (NDQIS) tool.

How to read it

Police recorded crime depends on what is reported and how it is recorded, but the ONS says it is a better guide than the survey for knife crime, which is rare and concentrated. The switch to NDQIS by 41 forces by March 2026 changed how knife involvement is identified, so compare years on the same method; the ONS chart starts in the year ending March 2020 for that reason. A rate per head or per area needs population figures for the same period. Knife crime is concentrated in large cities: the Metropolitan Police recorded 28% of offences.

Background

On the current method, knife-enabled crime was 55,170 offences in the year ending March 2020. It was 48,774 in the year ending March 2026, 8% lower than the previous year and 12% below 2020. Assaults made up 44% and robbery 39%. Homicides with a knife or sharp instrument fell 14% to 176, which the ONS said was the lowest since the year ending March 1991 on broadly comparable Home Office Homicide Index data. Separate Ministry of Justice statistics cover sentencing for knife and offensive weapon offences.

Other parts of the UK

Scottish Government: recorded crime in Scotland · ONS: police force area data tables (knife crime by force) · Ministry of Justice: knife and offensive weapon sentencing statistics, January to March 2026

How many knife crimes are there in the UK each year?

Police in England and Wales recorded 48,774 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the year ending March 2026, according to the ONS. Scotland and Northern Ireland record crime under different rules and publish separately, so there is no single comparable UK total.

Is knife crime going down in England and Wales?

Recorded knife-enabled crime fell 8% in the year ending March 2026 compared with the previous year, and was 12% below the year ending March 2020. Knife homicides fell to 176, the lowest since the year ending March 1991 on broadly comparable data.

Where is knife crime highest in England and Wales?

Most knife-enabled crime is recorded in metropolitan areas. In the year ending March 2026 the Metropolitan Police recorded 28% of the total (13,806 offences), West Midlands Police 8% and Greater Manchester Police 6%. Rates by population for every force are in the ONS police force area tables.

What counts as knife crime in the statistics?

The ONS counts selected violent and sexual offences and robberies where a knife or sharp instrument was used or threatened, including where the victim believed one was present. Possession of a knife is a separate offence and is not included in this total.

What is the sentence for knife crime in England and Wales?

Sentences depend on the offence. The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly knife and offensive weapon sentencing statistics, and the Sentencing Council publishes guidelines for each offence. See our guide to sentencing guidelines for where to look them up.

Related questions

• What is the knife crime rate in England and Wales?
• Is crime going up or down in the UK?
• Where can I find official crime statistics?
• How many stop and searches do police carry out?
• Where can I find the sentencing guidelines for an offence?

More on this source: Ministry of Justice statistics, police.uk and data.police.uk