knife crime research - statistics

Statistics - some specifics / the numbers (based on the latest annual statistics for crime in England & Wales)	back to top of page
note: where BCS & RCS figures vary we have tried to show comparison	source of information;

	Incidents of Violent Crime	2,715,000	British Crime Survey  (RCS figures 1,000,000+)
	- Violent Crime - involving use of weapons	almost 75%	Recorded Crime Statistics
	- Violent Crime - Wounding	38%	Recorded Crime Statistics    (BCS indicate 25%)
	- Violent Crime - Serious Wounding	2%	Recorded Crime Statistics    (BCS - no info)
	- Violent Crime - fatalities	0.1%	Recorded Crime Statistics    (BCS - no info)
	Homicides (incl. murder / manslaughter / infanticides)	1,045	Recorded Crime Statistics
	- Homicides with sharp implement	27%	Recorded Crime Statistics
	- Homicides with guns	8%	Recorded Crime Statistics
	- Homicides increase since 1965	more than tripled	Recorded Crime Statistics
	Incidents involving edged weapon attacks (London Only)	54,000+	British National Martial Arts Association
	Firearm incidents involving violence	7,133	Recorded Crime Statistics
	Statistics re. Youths Carrying Knives:- (note: the figures below do not necessarily reflect youths carrying knives every day)	.
	- 11-12 year olds carrying knives last year	10%	Youth at risk?
	- 15-17 year olds admitting to carrying knives for self defence	46%	Ian Johnston - Chief Constable British Transport Police
	- Pupils in London Schools carrying knives (in many surveys, around 30-35% of pupils admit to carrying a knife - but it should be stressed, that does not mean every day! However misguidedly, many pupils only carry a knife when they feel they may be particularly at risk)	29%	Youth Justice Board / Mori 2003
	- Excluded Pupils carrying knives	62%	Youth Justice Board / Mori 2003
	- 16 year old boys admitting attacking someone with a knife  - intent on causing serious injury	1 in 5	Youth Justice Board / Mori 2003
	-  teenage deaths from knife attack (2004)	more than 20	Be Safe Project   www.besafeproject.org.uk
	++++ Newsflash ++++ In London alone - over the May Bank Holiday weekend (27-29th May 06) - Police recorded over 50 knife attacks	more than 50 knife attacks in London during the weekend	BBC National News
	Many criminologists now believe that people carrying a knife is a bigger threat than people carrying guns - this is based on a 60% increase in recorded incidents of knife carrying during the 6 years between 1999 - 2004	60% increase in recorded knife carrying incidents in  just 6 years