Each untimely death is undeniably a tragedy, particularly when it involves a child. The violent death of a child is a trauma that leaves an indelible mark on all those affected. The horrific deaths of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, in the recent Southport stabbings have shocked the nation, leading to an outcry and further violence. This tragic event has also reignited the national debate about knife crime in general.
But how prolific is knife crime in England and Wales?
As a proportion of all violent deaths, knife crime is certainly the leading cause of homicide. According to data from the Office of National Statistics, homicides over time have fluctuated. While the number of homicides has increased over the decades, so has the population. In 1960, there were 282 homicides reported in England and Wales. By 2022-23, this number had risen to 591.
However, this figure is down from the recent peak of 718 in 2017/18 and significantly lower than the record high of 1,043 seen in 2002/03.
To put this in perspective, last year, England and Wales ranked 39th out of the past 64 years for the number of homicides. The 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s saw far higher levels of homicides than today, a period well before the mass immigration often cited as a driver of modern violence.
The death of three young girls in a single incident is an exceptionally profound tragedy. Thankfully, such events are very rare.
Over the last decade (April 2012 – March 2023), 9% of the 6,639 homicides in England and Wales involved children under the age of 15. Of these, 217, or approximately 3%, were between the ages of 5 and 15. Among these children, about two-thirds were boys (138) and one-third were girls (78). This means that just over 1% of all homicides in England and Wales in the last ten years involved young girls. Last year, six girls aged 5-15 were killed in England and Wales, setting the tragedy in Stockport apart due to its rarity.
Knife violence is undoubtedly a leading cause of deaths. Over the last decade (April 2012 to March 2023), 2,574 of the 6,639 homicides recorded in England and Wales, or 38%, were knife-related. In the last recorded year (April 2022 – March 2023), 41% of all homicides in England and Wales were knife-related, equating to 244 stabbing deaths out of 590 total homicides.
On average, over the last decade, 41% of male homicides and 32% of female homicides were due to sharp instruments. However, last year’s 244 knife murders would have ranked fifth over the past 11 years, with recent years seeing a decrease from the high of 282 knife killings in 2017/18.
In conclusion, while knife crime remains a significant concern in England and Wales, particularly in the context of violent deaths, the data reveals that the overall homicide rate has fluctuated and is not at its peak.
The tragic deaths of the three young girls in Southport highlight the devastating impact of such violence and underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to address and reduce knife crime in society.
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