Labour’s policing minister has expressed satisfaction with a considerable reduction in knife-related crimes and has pledged to push for further progress. Recent data released indicates a 23% decrease in fatal stabbings, with an overall decline of 9% in knife-related offenses over the 12 months leading up to September 2025, totaling 50,430 reported incidents to law enforcement agencies.
During the same period, there was a 7% drop in homicides, as highlighted by statistics from the Office for National Statistics. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones, speaking to The Mirror, stated, “This government is dedicated to cutting knife crime in half within a decade, and these statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy.”
Jones emphasized the decrease in knife-related homicides and robberies, as well as the confiscation of numerous dangerous weapons from the streets, leading to fewer victims, safer neighborhoods, and fewer families enduring tragic losses. However, she stressed that now is not the time to relax efforts.
The introduction of a new National Police Service, likened to a ‘British FBI’ by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, focusing on counterterrorism and organized crime, is expected to enhance law enforcement’s ability to address local criminal activities.
Jones affirmed the government’s support for law enforcement by providing necessary tools, powers, and intelligence to act swiftly and effectively in removing knives from circulation and preventing violence. She mentioned that the recent policing reforms will facilitate further progress, including the implementation of new national response standards and enhanced accountability to ensure timely responses to critical incidents and swift apprehension of offenders.
The establishment of a National Police Service is anticipated to relieve local forces by tackling serious and organized crime, allowing more officers to be deployed in communities to identify risks early and deter knife-related offenses. Additionally, the utilization of facial recognition technology and Hex mapping to pinpoint crime hotspots is expected to aid in identifying and apprehending dangerous criminals.
Notably, the ONS data revealed a decrease in fatal incidents involving knives or sharp objects from 227 to 174 within a year, contributing to a total of 499 homicides, the lowest since comparable records began in 2003. Major police forces such as the Met Police, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester Police witnessed reductions in knife-related crimes, with varying percentages reported.
Billy Gazard of the ONS mentioned that while the crime survey indicates a relatively stable situation, numerous forms of violent crimes and theft recorded by the police have declined in the past year. Homicides and gun-related crimes are reported to be at the lowest levels seen in this century, with a reduction in knife crimes as well. The majority of police forces, including urban areas like Greater Manchester, Metropolitan, and West Midlands, have observed decreases in knife crime over the past year, as supported by NHS data showing a decline in hospital admissions due to sharp object assaults.
Shabana Mahmood expressed satisfaction with the progress in combating community-threatening crimes, noting that homicides are at their lowest level in nearly five decades, and knife-related crimes continue to decrease. However, she emphasized the persistent rise in crimes like shop theft and robbery, indicating the need for further action.
To address these challenges, the government plans to deploy an additional 13,000 neighborhood officers and has allocated £2 billion in additional funding to support law enforcement agencies since taking office. The ONS figures indicated a rise in shoplifting incidents in the year leading up to September but remained slightly below the record levels recorded in the previous year. The total number of reported offenses of all types in the year ending March 2025 was 530,439.
