Knife crime offences from 2018 to 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.034589

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am writing to request the following:

1) How many people have been charged with a knife crime offence by your police force in the following years: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

2) How many reports of knife crime offences have you had in your police force in the following years: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12 of the FOI Act, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request. I request that the information be sent to me digitally and within the legal timeframe for requests.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Please note a knife offence ranges from a lower threshold of possession of bladed article to actually the use of a knife in the commission of the offence. It could also relate to knives found as part of knife sweeps. Furthermore the number of knife offences is not correlated or associated with individuals or suspects. Knife offences recorded are with no suspect or no known suspect therefore it’s impossible to proceed against anyone.