A knife crime epidemic in London and England’s big cities has seen the number of offences involving blades soar by more than a fifth.
Police recorded 39,598 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the latest year ending December 2017, a 22% increase compared with the previous year.
London saw a 44% increase in the number of killings, with more than 150 victims, while the number knife offences in the capital rose by more than 20 per cent to 14,680.
Police at the scene of the latest murder in London, when a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death in Finsbury Park last weekend
The stats were released amid growing concern at the spiralling number of deadly attacks on the capital’s streets, with more than 60 people killed since the start of 2018.
Sex attacks are up by 11% to 19,854 offences, while the number of rapes has increased by nearly 20% to 7,707 offences.
The total number of robberies is up by 35% to 32,869, while burglaries of homes and businesses is up by 11% per cent to 77,626.
Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said today: ‘I am very concerned about the rise in crime in the capital, particularly murder, violent crime and knife crime.
‘My thoughts are with the victims’ families of these tragic and horrific crimes which have brought untold misery to countless people.
‘We are strengthening local policing by bringing specialist officers closer to communities, and have increased the number of neighbourhoods officers dedicated to particular areas to engage with the public and work with them to keep them safe.’