Labour’s policing minister has praised a 10% decrease in knife crime reports over the past year, alongside a reduction in homicides in England and Wales according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures also show a slight drop in shoplifting reports after reaching record levels previously.
In the 12-month period ending December 2025, there were 49,151 incidents involving knives, a decrease from 54,548 in the previous year. Additionally, homicides decreased by 6% to 503 in England and Wales during that timeframe.
While robberies involving knives also saw a decline, the Home Office aims to sustain this trend as Labour committed to cutting knife crime by half within a decade starting in 2024.
Shop theft incidents showed a 1% decrease, although nearly 510,000 cases were still reported within 12 months. Interestingly, the overall arrest rate for shoplifting suspects rose by 17%, attributed to increased patrols in town centers.
Knife-related killings dropped by 21% to 172, bringing the homicide rate down to 8.1 per million people from 8.9 in 2024. Overall, knife offenses are 11% lower than in 2020, as highlighted by ONS experts.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones emphasized the government’s commitment to halving knife crime in the next decade, citing progress in reducing knife-related homicides by 27% since the beginning of the current parliamentary term.
Furthermore, robberies involving knives fell by 15%, attributed to the efforts of a new Knife-Enabled Robbery Taskforce targeting crime hotspots. Minister Jones emphasized the need for sustained progress to effect lasting change.
The government recently unveiled a strategy to combat knife crime, including a £26 million investment in a Knife Crime Concentrations Fund supporting 27 police forces covering 90% of knife crime areas in England and Wales. Additionally, specialized training and support will be provided to 250 schools in high-risk zones to ensure child safety.
Plans also include establishing 50 Young Futures Hubs in severely affected areas by the end of the current parliamentary term to offer essential support and safe environments for under-18s, aimed at preventing youth involvement in criminal activities.
The statistics signal positive developments, but Minister Jones acknowledged the ongoing work required for sustained improvement. The data also revealed decreases in thefts, with domestic burglary down by 22% and vehicle theft declining by 14%. Fraud cases, however, increased to an estimated 4.4 million from 4.1 million in 2024.
Overall, statisticians estimate no significant change in the total number of serious crimes, which remained at 9.6 million compared to the previous year.