Number of killings on Britain’s streets hits 10-year high amid knife epidemic 

The number of killings on Britain’s streets is at its highest level in a decade, shocking crime figures revealed today.

There were 732 police recorded homicides – which includes murders and manslaughter cases – in England and Wales last year, the highest since 2008 and the equivalent of two a day.

The number of knife offences also rose by six per cent – with more 40,800 recorded crimes involving a blade.

The figures come as an apparently endless series of stabbings in London and other cities has triggered a political row over cuts to police funding.

Today’s Office of National Statistics crime report showed an increase in knife offences in 31 of the 43 police forces in the year leading up to December.

The Metropolitan Police recorded the largest volume, at 14,660. Merseyside saw a rise of 35% and North Yorkshire’s knife crime increased by 21%. British Transport Police saw an increase of 54%.

The number of overall violent offences recorded by police was more than 1.6million, a 19% increase on 2017. 

The group Victim Support said behind each one of today’s statistics is a tragic story of a lives wrecked by crime.

A spokesman said: ‘It’s deeply concerning to see homicides continue to rise and we know from working with those bereaved by murder and manslaughter through our national Homicide Service just how devastating the impact is on family and friends, witnesses to the crime and the wider community.’

One of the latest killings was that of an 18-year-old man who was stabbed to death in the Harborne area of Birmingham on Wednesday evening.

Yesterday, a 21-year-old man became London’s 38th murder victim this year after he was one of four victims stabbed in seven hours of bloodshed in the capital on Tuesday. 

The figures will put further pressure on the government to increase funding to police forces, who say they do not have the resources to cope.

Police in south London took this fearsome knife off a man during a stop and search yesterday

Ashley Bertie, the Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, which has seen a surge in stabbings, called for more money.

He said: ‘These statistics should be a wake-up call for the government to ensure they give policing the funding it needs. 

‘West Midlands Police has faced £175 million in central government cuts since 2010. Despite being recognised by independent inspectors as a highly efficient force, we have lost over 2,000 officers since 2010, meaning we are having to do more with less. 

‘These figures highlight the government’s short-sighted approach to policing and the need for a long term funding solution for forces.’

Policing minister Nick Hurd said: ‘Today’s statistics show that your chance of being a victim of crime remains low, and the Metropolitan Police’s more recent figures suggest that action to tackle violent crime is having an impact.

‘Yet too many people are still falling victim to serious violence, which is why we will continue our urgent and unprecedented action to reverse this terrible trend.

‘We have given police forces additional powers and have this year put more than £1 billion extra into policing, including council tax and £100 million specifically for those areas worst affected by violent crime.

‘But law enforcement alone is not the answer which is why our Serious Violence Strategy puts a greater focus on prevention, including by consulting on a proposed new duty to underpin a public health approach to serious violence and investing over £220 million in projects to steer young people away from crime.’

London has already seen 38 murders this year. These were not included in today’s stats