Knife killings at highest since 1946 with biggest rise among teen boys, shocking figures reveal
KNIFE killings are at their highest since 1946, shocking figures show — with the biggest rise among boys of 16 and 17.
There were 282 slayings involving blades in the 12 months to March last year.
The toll was up nearly 20 per cent compared to the previous year.
It was the highest total for England and Wales since records began 77 years ago, the Office of National Statistics revealed.
Worryingly, 51 of those killed by blades were aged 13 to 19.
The number of boy victims aged 16 and 17 more than doubled in a year — from ten to 24.
Anti-knife crime campaigner Nick De Bois said: “It’s still far too easy to get hold of knives, especially with youngsters getting caught up in gangs.”
Tory MP Marco Longhi said: “We need to see more action in schools and more stop and search.
“The latter can be controversial but I think it’s the kindest thing to do if it saves lives.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The Government is badly failing to take strong enough action to stop knife crime especially among young people.”
The number of knife offenders going to prison has fallen to a ten-year low.
Only a quarter were given an immediate custodial sentence — despite blade possessions hitting a new high of 24,546.
There was major concern about knife killings in London in 2021 when a record 30 teenagers died.