Key facts
- Knife murders in the UK have decreased by 27% over the past two years.
- Overall knife crime has been reduced by 10%, with more than 1,900 knives seized.
- The County Lines Programme closed 2,833 drug lines and led to 7,381 arrests in the 2025-2026 period.
- Knife-point robberies in high-impact areas have fallen by 15% since June of the previous year.
- Over 4,000 individuals exploited by county lines gangs received support.
- The government aims to halve knife crime within the next decade.
Knife murders across the UK have fallen by 27% in the last two years, according to new statistics from the Home Office. Overall knife crime has seen a 10% reduction, with over 1,900 knives taken off the streets during this period. The government's County Lines Programme, aimed at dismantling drug gangs that exploit vulnerable individuals, has been described as having its 'best year on record'.
In the 2025 to 2026 period, 2,833 county lines were closed, resulting in 7,381 arrests. Knife-point robberies in the most affected areas have decreased by 15% since June of the previous year, meaning nearly 2,500 fewer people have experienced such threats. The programme has also provided support to over 4,000 children and vulnerable individuals exploited by these gangs, with more than 600 young people receiving specialized assistance. Independent evaluations indicate that the programme contributes to a 25% drop in hospital admissions for knife stabbings in key originating areas, preventing an estimated 840 stabbings annually.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones highlighted the success in closing county lines, bringing gang leaders to justice, and removing weapons, stating the government's mission to halve knife crime within a decade. The government has implemented targeted actions, including a new group to combat knife robberies and the County Lines Programme, which works with police and local partners. Organizations like Catch22, through its national County Lines Support and Rescue Service, are actively involved in rescuing and supporting young victims.