UK knife crime offenses rise slightly; first-time offender rates hit decade low: Report

​​​​​​​By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Knife and offensive weapon offences handled by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) increased 0.3% in the year ending June 2024 compared to the previous year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.

The number of offenses surged 22% in the past decade, underscoring long-term concerns about knife crime in England and Wales.

The report also revealed a notable shift in offender profiles.

The proportion of first-time offenders for knife and offensive weapon offenses has dropped to 69% -- the lowest recorded in the last decade.

The figure represents a 5.9 percentage point decrease compared to 10 years ago, suggesting a growing proportion of repeat offenders of the crimes.

Sentencing trends for the offenses have also evolved over the decade, with significant differences emerging between adults and younger offenders.

The average immediate custody sentence length for adult offenders has increased 11.5% since 2014, reaching 8.1 months in 2024. The upward trend highlights a tougher stance on knife crime for adults.

The opposite pattern has emerged, however, for offenders aged 10 - 17.

The average immediate custody sentence length for that group has fallen 13.3% since 2014, now standing at 6.6 months.