Government expands crackdown on knife crime

Targeted crackdown has reduced knife robberies by almost a quarter in 7 forces since June 2024.

More than 230 areas most affected by knife crime will see more police patrols, CCTV and early prevention work as part of a knife crime crackdown across 27 police forces in England and Wales.

The Home Secretary is backing local plans developed by police and councils to tackle crimes, save lives and protect local communities.  

Each plan will be tailored to the area. They will combine tough police enforcement activity such as enhanced police patrols, alongside programmes designed for young people most at risk of being a victim or a perpetrator of knife crime.  

There will also be improvements to public spaces, including better lighting and redesigning areas to prevent weapons being hidden. 

Growing evidence shows that concerted action in small, targeted areas is the most effective way of driving down knife crime. This crackdown comes as new data shows 7 forces - Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police, Avon and Somerset Police and British Transport Police - made real inroads into tackling an issue that has blighted communities across the country, identifying and arresting more people through the better sharing of data. 

Across these forces, knife-enabled robbery has plummeted by nearly a quarter (23%) since the General Election - with more than 3,600 fewer knife robberies reported.  

This builds on huge steps forward on knife crime since the government came into office. Overall knife crime is down by 11%, as the government continues to make progress towards its target of halving it within a decade.  

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, and no young life should be blighted by knife crime.   

Targeted policing and prevention, focused on the areas where the need is greatest, is already cutting knife robberies by nearly a quarter. That means safer streets, and fewer lives lost.