Knife Crime Is Rapidly Increasing; 4 Tips on How to Stay Safe in 2024

Written by regionadmin

24th August 2020

Knife Crime Is Rapidly Increasing; 4 Tips on How to Stay Safe in 2023

UK’s Knife Crime

Knife crime across England and Wales showed a worrying increase in 2023. In figures recorded by police, in the year ending September 2023, there was a 5% increase compared to the previous year. The number of crimes involving a knife or a bladed weapon rose from 46,367 to 48, 716 according to the Office For National Statistics. They also reported a 19% increase in the number of robberies involving knives or some kind of sharp instruments from the previous year.

When we take a look at the ONS’s data for the year ending June 2023, there was a 3% increase in the number of knife-enabled crimes recorded by the police.  This follows on from another alarming rise. Threats to kill involving knives and bladed weapons increased by 24% in the year ending March 2023 when compared next to 2020.

With this worrying increase in knife crime, one organisation who are using their platform to call for change around the sale of such weapons is The Ben Kinsella Foundation. Something they’re particularly focusing on is addressing tech companies’ role in helping to prevent knife crime.

These increases follow on from March 2019, when knife crime in the UK reached a decade high. The ONS revealed that recordings of crimes involving sharp instruments rose to their highest since the year 2010. Police recorded more than 44,000 offenses involving a sharp object in the 12 months leading up to June 2019, which was an increase of 7% from the previous year.

Knife Crime In Schools

Shockingly, knife crime also appears to be surging within schools. Since 2015, assaults taking place in schools have increased by 72%, with physical violence not only being committed against fellow pupils but also teachers. A frightening 18% of teachers report being threatened with a weapon by pupils, with 3% claiming a weapon was brought into school. Additionally, 45,632 young people between the ages of 10-17 were arrested for the possession of an offensive weapon in both England and Wales. Weapons identified varied from machetes, kitchen knives, and samurai swords, with the youngest offender at just 4 years young. School students should feel safe whilst in a learning environment, as it’s a place to learn and socialise. An increase in violence is threatening pupils’ safety and creating a fearful atmosphere.

school knife crime

What Crimes Are Being Committed?

The nature of knife crime can vary significantly. Some crimes can be robberies and attempts to cause bodily harm to others. In the year leading up to March 2023 for example, robbery involving a knife had the largest increase of selected offences involving a sharp instrument.

The report from the House of Commons Library also tells us that within english hopsitals, there were 3,775 cases of assault by a sharp object recorded in 2022.23.

Offenses for possession of an article with a blade or point rose 20 % in the 12 months leading up to March 2023 when compared to the year ending in March 2020. For full details for this period, check out the ONS report here.

Where Does Knife Crime Occur The Most?

In this section, we delve into the question: Where does knife crime occur the most? Through data analysis and insights, we aim to shed light on the areas most affected by this pressing issue.

London

Knife crime in London remains a persistent and deeply concerning issue. The BBC recently reported that there were 13,503 incidents of knife crime reported in London between July 2022 and July 2023.

There was also a significant increase in the number of knife-point robberies within this 12 month period. According to The Standard, there was a 36% jump to a total of 7,996.

West Midlands 

Research found that West Midlands police recorded the highest rate of knife crime. In 2022/23, they recorded 178 offences per 100,000 population.

While London often hits headlines regarding knife crime, Birmingham has also seen its fair share in recent years. Birmingham Live reports that the ciry has seen the most offences in the West Midlands during this period. In fact, they ppint out that tgis accounts for 55% of all the knife crime incidents.

In 2019, police recorded 3,428 serious crimes involving sharp weapons. 23 of these were murders. This is an increase of 20% in just one year. Moreover, the number of knifepoint robberies has risen from 1,591 to 1,938 and assaults have increased from 1,124 to 1,298.

Manchester

Manchester is another region which has suffered a surge in knife crime. Recent statistics reported by the Manchester Evening News paint a stark picture, revealing that an alarming average of 12 knife-related incidents occur daily since 2020.

However, Operation Sycamore highlights Greater Manchester Police’s unwavering dedication to combating serious violent crime, particularly the threat of knife crime. the initiative works to address the issue from multiple angles. Firstly, it seeks to disrupt the illegal influx of knives into the region. It works to raise public awareness, shining a spotlight on the dangers and consequences of knife crime. Plus, it empowers individuals to make informed choices and reject violence.

Rest assured, if you call one of these cities home, there are proactive steps you can take to safeguard yourself and your assets. From hiring security guards to installing CCTV, enhance your security infrastructure and peace of mind.

how to stay safe against knife crime

How Can You Stay Safe From Knife Crime?

Safety is extremely essential, especially after reviewing recent statistics. We have gathered our top 4 tips on how you can avoid falling victim to these acts of violence…

1. Be Alert and Aware

Whether you’re using a mobile phone, making a call, wearing a hood or listening to music, these actions all affect your awareness of your surroundings. From the moment you step into the public, look assertive and act confidently; this will enable you to appear in control and you won’t look vulnerable. Try to avoid walking alone at night in places such as parks and side streets; try to travel with people you know and stick to transport that others are using. If you do have to walk, stick to busy, well-lit places that are filled with CCTV devices.

Furthermore, alcohol and drugs will reduce your reactions and reflexes which will result in difficulty to assess risks and decide how to deal with them. Always keep an eye on how much you drink when you are out.

2. Hide Valuables

Keep your valuables hidden away. Thieves envy expensive items such as technology, jewellery and designer goods. Remember, out of sight, out of mind. If the worst comes to worst and you find yourself in a dangerous situation with a thief who wants your belongings, toss your items away from you and run immediately; most of the time, the criminal is more interested in your items, the weapon is often used to scare you into giving them what they desire.

3. Plan Ahead

Discuss with friends on what to do if something were to go wrong on your night out together. An example of this could be if one of you has too much to drink or if you were to get separated. Be sure to agree on a backup plan and look out for one another. If you are walking home alone, contact a member of your family and let them know that you are returning home; they will be expecting you and if you do not turn up, they will know to act on it.

4. Trust Your Gut Instinct

If something doesn’t feel right, always try to leave the situation; our brains use a combination of logic and emotion when making decisions. This relates to your alertness; make sure you are aware of what is going on around you.

What Should You Do If You Witness Knife Crime?

If someone has been seriously injured and are bleeding from an artery, it is possible for them to lose a critical amount of blood within a very few minutes. It is urgent that you are aware of the importance of acting fast and knowing how to help. However, you should first check that that the surrounding area is safe; wear gloves or take measures to protect yourself from blood contamination.

You can report a crime on the police website

  • Talk to the victim and quickly establish if there is any response, if they are conscious, monitor their vital signs and breathing because they can deteriorate. Sit or lie the person down to manage their shock and prevent them from feeling faint. If the bleed is serious, then help them lie down and elevate their legs.
  •  If the person is unconscious and not breathing, call for an ambulance and perform CPR immediately.
  • After a knife incident, the priority is to stop the blood from coming out; examine the area to see if there is anything stuck in the wound, if there is then do not remove it and you should apply direct pressure on the wound to stop the blood from flowing out.
  • Dress the wound with an appropriate non-adherent dressing.
  • Keep the person warm and reassure them.

Knife crime is a sensitive subject and given the statistics we’ve seen, safeguarding yourself should be imperative. Hiring a private security company that provides premium security services can significantly reduce violent crime by acting as a visual deterrent, as a security presence has been proven to prevent crime. With years of experience within the security industry, Region Security Guarding is proud to be a leading and trusted supplier of security services and security guards throughout the whole of the UK. All of our professional security personnel have undergone rigorous background checks and each holds an individual SIA-qualified license.

To stay updated with all the latest crime news, check out our news page where you can find articles about youth crime and gun crime in the UK.

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