Advertisement

The area of England where knife crime has gone up by 52%

(PA/GETTY/WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)
Cain Jackson (L) and Nasir Patrice (R) were both victims of knife-crime (PA/GETTY/WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)

Knife crime is on the rise across England and Wales - with one area experiencing a staggering increase of more than 50% in the last year.

According to a new crime report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument rose to 44,771 - up from 41,858 cases in the previous year.

Boy holding knife ready to attack someone
Police recorded offences in England and Wales have risen from 41,858 to 44,771 cases in a year (GETTY)

The document revealed that Warwickshire saw the highest increase in overall knife-related crime, with a rise of 52%.

It follows the death of Nasir Patrice, who was stabbed to death on Tachbrook Road in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire earlier in January.

Undated handout family handout photo issued by Warwickshire Police of 17-year-old Nasir Patrice,who was fatally stabbed in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in January (PA)
Undated handout family handout photo issued by Warwickshire Police of 17-year-old Nasir Patrice,who was fatally stabbed in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in January (PA)

In October last year, Cain Jackson, 24, was found dead in the street from stab injuries in Rugby.

Knife crime across England and Wales hit a record high in the year to September 2019 - up by 7% on the 12 months previous.

Cain Jackson, 24, was fatally stabbed in the street in Rugby in October 2019 (WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)
Cain Jackson, 24, was fatally stabbed in the street in Rugby in October 2019 (WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)

The change in the number of offences involving knives or sharp instruments in the latest year varied by police force.

The area that recorded the highest number of police-reported incidents was the West Midlands.

Read more:
The 360: How to stop Britain’s knife crime epidemic
Heartbreaking photo of toddler pouring earth on father’s grave in bid to stop knife crime
Government's chicken box knife crime campaign branded 'ridiculous' and 'racist'

London saw little change with a 2% increase, compared with a 7% rise in the previous year.

Overall knife incidents also rose by 44% in Suffolk and 48% in West Mercia.

Crime and security concept - a thief with a knife is going to attack and rob another person in a tunnel.
The new figures show the West Midlands recorded a 17 percent rise in crimes involving a knife or sharp object (GETTY)

Meanwhile, West Yorkshire saw a decrease of 8% in the number of overall knife related crimes reported to police.

Last week, data released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) showed the number of knife crimes resulting in a conviction or caution was the highest in a decade.

There were 22,286 knife and offensive weapon offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system in England and Wales in the year ending September 2019, according to the figures.

Dangerous weapons handed in to the police during a weapons armistice - United Kingdom.
Dangerous weapons handed in to the police during a weapons armistice - United Kingdom.

Helen Ross from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice said of the : “In the last year there has been no change in overall levels of crime, however, this hides variations in different types of crime.

“For example, there have been continued rises in fraud, vehicle offences and robbery, and decreases in burglary and homicide.

“Although the number of offences involving a knife has continued to increase, there is a mixed picture across police forces and overall levels of violence remain steady. We have also seen the number of homicides where a knife or sharp instrument was used decrease by a fifth, driven by falls in London.”

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---