Knife crime falls in West Midlands as police focus on prevention and education
The region is witnessing a significant reduction in knife crime, according to the latest figures
Officers claim preventative work, education and increased visibility have contributed to a drop in knife crime in the West Midlands.
The region has seen a significant reduction in knife crime, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In 2025/26, police forces, including the West Midlands, reported a 15% drop in knife offences compared to the previous year.
Chief Inspector from West Midlands Police, Lee Wiggan, says their focus is making people feel safe in the community.
He said: “We have a wide range of partnerships and preventative functions that are looking at those issues knife crime and serious youth violence. We are educating youngster within primary school settings, in high school settings, to make sure they are neither victim nor perpetrator of this crime type.
“When we’re talking about reduction in knife crime or in serious youth violence, it’s easy to hide behind the number element of it. But I think what you have to do is look at the humanistic element of it and think, well that’s fewer victims of knife crime, that’s fewer victims of serious youth violence. And they are the positives we take from it.
“People have got to be able to come into their communities and feel that they are safe to do so. So, the good news of the reduction in crime, that will obviously add to that. We’ve still got a big part to play in visibility, sharing that good news, and educating the general public on that.”
Chief Inspector Lee Wiggan added: “We want the young people of the borough to be safe and secure with their local policing teams in general settings. We want them to be able to say hello, we want them to be able to interact with us. Because when we have that relationship with the general public, that’s where we’re able to make that meaningful change.”
Other major forces experienced a reduction in knife crime, including the Metropolitan Police seeing a 15% reduction and Greater Manchester experiencing a 17% fall.
The drop in knife-related incidents is said to have contributed to the lowest level of knife homicides in 35 years, helping push overall homicide numbers to historic lows.
Across England and Wales, 176 knife homicides were recorded in 2025/26, marking a 14% decrease from the previous year's count of 204.
The West Midlands' progress is part of a nationwide push towards reducing knife crime, reflecting comprehensive policing efforts and community initiatives.