| answer text |
<p>In the year ending March 2023, 2,108 children were convicted of a knife crime offence
(defined as knife possession and knife threatening offences) and for 1,924 of those
individuals this was their first knife crime offence. Compared to the year ending
March 2018, 2,635 children were convicted of a knife crime offence and for 2,398 of
those individuals this was their first knife crime offence.</p><p> </p><p>In the year
ending March 2023, 11,899 people (i.e. adults and children) were convicted of a knife
crime offence and for 9,314 of those individuals this was their first knife crime
offence. Compared to year ending March 2018, 12,163 people were convicted of a knife
crime offence and for 9,865 of those individuals this was their first knife crime
offence.</p><p> </p><p>Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined
to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of
individuals, families and communities.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking significant action
to both prevent and respond to crimes involving weapons through the Serious Violence
Strategy, the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers,
and increasing stop and search powers.</p>
|
|
