Upon assuming the role of Policing Minister, I committed to combatting knife crime and enhancing safety on our streets. After a year, that commitment has been upheld with tangible results.
Knife crime rates have declined, lives have been preserved, and communities are now more secure, all thanks to the proactive measures taken by the Home Office and law enforcement.
Over the past year, actions have spoken louder than words, yielding significant outcomes. Intensive enforcement and prevention efforts in areas plagued by the threat of knife robberies have led to a noteworthy transformation.
A specialized team established to address knife-related robberies in seven high-incidence areas has contributed to a 15% reduction in such crimes since June 2024. This translates to nearly 2,500 fewer robberies—an impressive achievement compared to the previous upward trend. Targeted policing strategies, informed by data analysis, are safeguarding communities and proactively preventing violence.
Our successful County Lines Programme has also delivered exceptional results. These exploitative drug networks, which fuel knife crime and ensnare many vulnerable youths in criminal activities, have been dismantled in the thousands.
Since July 2024, more than 3,000 lines have been shut down, resulting in over 8,200 arrests, including charges against 1,600 line holders, and the seizure of approximately 1,000 knives. Behind these figures lie transformed lives: over 4,300 vulnerable individuals referred for protection and support, with more than 600 children benefiting from the dedicated services funded through Catch22.
These young individuals are breaking free from exploitation and constructing safer futures. The impact is evident, with a 25% decrease in hospital admissions for stabbings in areas where large quantities of Class A drugs are trafficked from—a reduction that has spared 840 individuals.
Incidents of drug misuse resulting in hospitalizations have also notably declined. These statistics signify not just numbers but families spared from anguish and communities infused with optimism. This progress is the result of strategic planning and concerted efforts.
By uniting experts and analyzing data, initiatives like the knife surrender programs have provided individuals seeking an exit from knife-carrying lifestyles a means to relinquish their weapons.
Through these initiatives, nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from our streets. Our innovative Hex mapping technology is pinpointing localized hotspots of severe knife crime, facilitating more effective policing and targeted collaborations with local partners.
Violence Reduction Units are actively engaging with families and schools to divert young people from criminal paths, while over 50 Young Futures Panel trials are intervening early to shield those at highest risk.
Moreover, feedback from those most impacted by these heinous crimes has been taken into account. Ronan’s Law, championed by Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan fell victim to a fatal stabbing in 2022, has led to stricter penalties for offenders and enhanced safeguards for victims, sending a resolute message against knife crime.
Stringent age verification checks for online knife sales are closing loopholes exploited by criminals, and consultations are ongoing regarding a licensing scheme to impede illegal knife purchases by criminals and youths.
The battle against knife crime is ongoing, but the past year exemplifies the potential when government, law enforcement, and communities collaborate. Each knife surrendered, each County Line eradicated, and every child safeguarded equates to lives preserved and futures secured.
The rise in knife crime has been reversed into a decline—and our resolve remains unwavering until serious violence is eradicated from our communities, providing every young person with the opportunity for a safer tomorrow.
