Core indicator
Knife crime
Hospital admissions for knife assault (0-17-year-olds)
Last updated March 2023
(March 2023)
Last reviewed: July 2024
How are we measuring knife crime?
We’re using the number of 0–17-year-olds admitted to hospital per year, where the cause for admission was assault with a sharp object, as our core knife crime indicator. Hospital admissions data is seen as a more reliable guide to trends in knife violence than police or justice figures, as the data is less susceptible to changes in recording, reporting or sentencing practices.
What does our core indicator show?
Overall, this measure shows a mixed picture. Knife-related hospital admissions rose significantly from the mid-2010s, but have been falling again since before the pandemic. In 2022/23, 467 children aged 0–17 years were admitted to hospital due to knife assaults. This is down 2% compared to the previous year (2021/22) and down 16% compared to pre-Covid-19 levels (2019/20). However, it remains 47% up from where it was 10 years ago (2012/13).