Knife-related homicides in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest recorded level in 35 years, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the year ending March 2026, police recorded 176 fatal stabbings, a decline from 204 in the previous year and significantly down from a peak of 282 in 2018. This decrease contributed to a total of 499 homicides across England and Wales, the lowest figure recorded in this century, and down from 539 the year prior.

The ONS data also showed a broader reduction in knife crime overall. Authorities logged 48,774 knife offences in the year to March, marking an 8 percent drop from 53,096 incidents the previous year. Other notable falls were seen in specific regions, including a 15 percent decline in knife offences in both London and the West Midlands and a 17 percent reduction in Greater Manchester. Shoplifting offences also decreased by 4 percent, falling from over 530,000 to just above 507,000 incidents during the same period—the first drop after several years of rising numbers.

Despite these decreases, concerns have risen over the level of anti-social behavior, with 41 percent of people reporting experiencing or witnessing such incidents in the past year. This represents an increase from 36 percent in the previous year and marks a return to levels last seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Transport Police recorded around one million incidents of anti-social behavior in this timeframe. Additionally, while overall crime survey results remained relatively stable, the ONS noted increases in theft from outside homes and reported fraud cases.

The figures prompted responses from political leaders. Policing Minister Sarah Jones described the reductions in serious crimes as evidence that the government was "turning the tide on the crimes that blight communities." However, the Conservative opposition challenged the findings by pointing to a nearly 10 percent rise in overall crime since the Labour party took office. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized Labour policies, attributing the rise to cuts in police officer numbers.

Experts from the ONS highlighted the complexity behind crime trends. Billy Gazard of the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice emphasized that while some crime types are declining, other types, including fraud and specific thefts, are on the rise, underlining the evolving nature of criminal activity in England and Wales.