Knife Killings in England and Wales Fall by 21% to 172 in 2025, ONS Reports
Killings involving a knife or sharp instrument decreased by 21% last year, according to data from police forces across England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 172 homicides involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2025, a notable drop from 217 in 2024. This figure represents the lowest since comparable data collection commenced in 2010-11.
Overall homicide offences, encompassing murder, manslaughter, infanticide, and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult, also saw a 6% reduction. A total of 503 offences were recorded in 2025, down from 534 in 2024.
Broader Crime Trends
Beyond homicides, recorded knife-related crime experienced a 10% decrease in 2025 compared to the previous year, with 49,151 offences. The Metropolitan Police accounted for 28% of these, despite a 17% fall in their recorded knife crime figures.
Offences involving firearms similarly declined by 9% in 2025, recording 4,753 incidents compared to 5,241 in 2024.
The ONS also integrated estimates from its annual Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), which found an estimated 2.6 million theft incidents in 2025, an 11% reduction. However, a 1% fall in recorded shoplifting offences to 509,566 in 2025 must be viewed with caution. The Home Office clarified that violence or threats during shoplifting should now be recorded as robbery of business property, potentially affecting these figures. This reclassification may explain the 78% increase in offences classed as robbery of businesses, rising from 14,691 in 2024 to 26,158 last year.
