Labour’s policing minister has praised a 10% decrease in knife crime reports within a year, alongside a decline in homicides in England and Wales, according to new data. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released figures showing a drop in shoplifting reports after reaching record levels previously.
Over the 12 months leading to December 2025, there were 49,151 blade-related offenses, down from 54,548 in the previous year. Additionally, homicides decreased by 6% to 503 in England and Wales during that period.
Although robberies involving knives also decreased, Ms. Jones from the Home Office emphasized the need to sustain this trend. The Labour Party aimed to cut knife crime in half within ten years after taking office in 2024.
There were positive signs regarding the shop theft issue after years of continuous increases. Reported cases declined by 1%, totaling nearly 510,000 in just a year. However, the overall charge rate for shoplifting suspects increased by 17%, attributed to enhanced town center patrols, as per separate Home Office data.
Knife-related killings dropped by 21% to 172, with the homicide rate decreasing to 8.1 per million people from 8.9 in 2024. ONS experts noted that total knife offenses are 11% lower than in 2020.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones, speaking to The Mirror, stated, “This Government aims to halve knife crime over the next decade, and recent figures indicate progress is well underway. Knife-related homicides continue to decline, showing a 27% decrease since the start of this Parliament.”
“Knife-enabled offenses dropped by 10% in the past year, reflecting nearly 5,400 fewer such traumatic incidents, the lowest since 2021.”
The data revealed a 15% decrease in robberies involving knives, credited to a new Knife-Enabled Robbery Taskforce targeting hotspots, according to Ms. Jones. She emphasized the need for sustained progress, stating, “These statistics are encouraging, but we acknowledge this is just the beginning, and this improvement must translate into lasting change.”
Recent Government strategies to combat knife crime include investing £26 million into a Knife Crime Concentrations Fund that supports 27 police forces covering 90% of knife crime in England and Wales. Additionally, 250 schools in high-risk areas will receive specialized training and support for child safety, with a promise of 50 Young Futures Hubs in the most affected regions by the end of the current Parliament.
These hubs will offer crucial support and safe spaces for individuals under 18, aiming to prevent youths from engaging in criminal activities. The policing minister highlighted that these efforts, coupled with proposed police reforms, will enhance response times, effectiveness, and focus on ensuring public safety, addressing both the root causes of violence and the crimes themselves.
“There is more work to be done, but progress is evident,” she concluded. ONS figures showed an 11% reduction in thefts, with domestic burglary falling by 22% and vehicle theft decreasing by 14%. Approximately 4.4 million fraud cases were estimated, up from 4.1 million in 2024.
Statisticians indicate that the overall number of serious crimes stood at 9.6 million, showing no significant change from the 2024 data.