Knife robberies have dropped by more than a fifth across England’s highest-volume areas, according to new Home Office figures, marking a significant turning point in efforts to tackle violent
crime and improve public safety.
The latest data shows knife-enabled robberies in seven major policing areas fell by 21% between June 2024 and March 2026 — from 15,918 offences to 12,633 — meaning thousands fewer victims experiencing the trauma, fear and financial impact associated with these crimes.
The decline follows a period of rising knife robberies and reflects the impact of a coordinated national response led by the Home Office in partnership with police forces. The figures, released during Knife Crime Awareness Week, highlight the success of targeted enforcement, improved intelligence-sharing and focused action against repeat offenders through the Home Office-led Knife-Enabled Robbery Group.
Established in October 2024, the group brings together the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police, West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police, Avon and Somerset Police, and British Transport Police. The initiative has strengthened collaboration between forces, helping officers identify emerging crime patterns earlier, improve investigations through greater use of CCTV and technology, and intensify action against high-harm offenders in hotspot areas.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:“These results show what can be achieved when we bring a clear focus and relentless grip to tackling knife crime, working hand in hand with the police and our frontline and grassroots partners.
I know knife robbery has a devastating impact on victims and communities, so sustained reductions like this matter because they mean fewer people at risk of harm.
I am determined to build on this progress as part of this government’s mission to halve knife crime, combining tough enforcement with early intervention and prevention to protect young people and keep communities safe”.
All seven participating forces recorded reductions in knife robberies. The largest falls were reported by West Midlands Police and British Transport Police, both down 39%, while the Metropolitan Police saw a 17% reduction. Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset, and South Yorkshire also recorded declines ranging between 10% and 21%.
As part of continued efforts to reduce robbery offences, Greater Manchester Police recently launched a dedicated City of Manchester robbery team under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. The specialist unit will focus on tackling knife-enabled robbery through high-visibility patrols, proactive offender targeting and rapid investigative response.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, force lead for robbery at Greater Manchester Police, said knife-enabled robbery causes “lasting harm” not only to victims but also to wider communities where offences often occur in public spaces.
She added that neighbourhood policing remains central to prevention, reassurance and effective enforcement, while the new robbery team will strengthen the force’s ability to target offenders and improve outcomes for victims.
The reductions form part of a wider downward trend in knife crime nationally. Recent figures show knife-related homicides have fallen by 27%, while more than 63,000 knives have been removed from streets through police seizures, surrender schemes and border interventions.
The government said the results support its wider strategy set out in ‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope: A Plan to Halve Knife Crime’, which combines enforcement with prevention, early intervention and community-led action to reduce violence over the next decade.
Knife Crime Awareness Week, led by organisations including the Ben Kinsella Trust, aims to raise awareness of the impact of knife crime while promoting prevention and youth engagement initiatives across England and Wales.
Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said the latest figures demonstrate the value of coordinated national leadership and targeted policing, but stressed that long-term progress will also depend on prevention and early support for young people.
The awareness week also coincides with Operation Sceptre, a nationwide policing initiative coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council to intensify action against knife crime through weapons sweeps, test-purchase operations targeting illegal knife sales, surrender schemes and school engagement activities.
Commander Stephen Clayman, the NPCC lead for knife crime and head of the National Knife Crime Centre, said tackling the root causes of knife crime through early intervention remains essential alongside enforcement activity.
The Home Office said it will continue working closely with police forces and community partners to expand successful approaches, sustain reductions in violence and build safer communities for future generations. Photo by Cnyborg, Wikimedia commons.
