UK Knife Crime Hit Record Highs in 2019, Despite Sadiq Khan’s 'Knife Control'
London mayor's attempts to tackle violent attacks don't appear to be working
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Despite promises from London Mayor Sadiq Khan to implement "knife control," the UK, most notably in the capital, saw record highs for knife-related attacks and murders in 2019.
Figures released for 2019 detail a sharp increase in knife crime and violence in general.
Between April 2018 to May 2019 knife crime was up 8 percent in both England and Wales.
The Office of National Statistics crime report says UK police reports from 43 departments recorded a staggering 47,136 incidents involving sharp objects.
In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan implemented blade bans in April 2018, but they appear to have little impact.
Reports of people being caught carrying a blade have increased 21 percent since 2018, the figures show.
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According to the Daily Signal, the 8% rise is calculated to equate to an increase of over 3,300 knife-related incidents compared with this time last year.
It’s supposed that even more stabbings or cuttings occurred and went unrecorded, as the UK’s Greater Manchester Police was excluded from the data for undercounting, according to the report.
The number of knife-related incidents has been on the rise for years, increasing by more than 42% since 2011.
Similarly, rape at knifepoint and threats to kill with blades are up 18% since last year.
No excuses: there is never a reason to carry a knife. Anyone who does will be caught, and they will feel the full force of the law. https://t.co/XILUvIFLOW
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) April 8, 2018
Khan acknowledges the rise in crime over the years—much of it during his tenure.
He blamed a system of “increasing inequality” for the wave of violence earlier this week, Fox News reports.
“The sad reality is the violence we’re seeing on our streets today is an appalling side effect of increasing inequality and alienation caused by years of austerity and neglect,” Khan said.
But knives don’t seem to be the UK’s only problem.
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Firearm offenses have increased by 3% in the U.K. and unregistered guns are being found at a rate as high as 40% greater than in 2018.
The UK has some of the most stringent laws in the world on private ownership of firearms.
“There has been one fatal stabbing every 1.45 days so far this year in England and Wales,” BBC reported in May.
