VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Knives: Crime

Asked by Sarah PochinReform UKHome OfficeTabled Answered 24 June 2026UIN 10377

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests relating to knife crime offences were made in each police force area in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Jones

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, the data on arrests is collected by offence group only, for example ‘Violence against the person’. Data on arrests specifically for knife crime offences is not available.

Separately, the Home Office publishes official statistics on knife-enabled crime including how these offences were dealt with by the police. This information can be found in our Open Data Tables, available here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UK

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim