VIOLENT ATTACKS WORST ON RECORD

BRITAIN has seen an explosion in violence as the number of attacks soar to the worst level since records began.

Levels of violent crime rocketed by 21 per cent in the past year, with 1.3million offences of violence against the person recorded – the highest number since records began in their current form 15 years ago.

Forces in England and Wales recorded a dramatic spike in violence of all types, with knife crime up by 22 per cent, robberies rising by a third, sex attacks up by a quarter and the number of killings increasing by nine per cent in 2017.

In total, police recorded 5.4million offences in the year, a 13 per cent rise on 2016.

The Office for National Statistics figures show that Britain is in the grip of a knife crime epidemic with almost 40,000 offences involving knives or sharp weapons in 2017.

The number of fatal stabbings has risen by 26 per cent, robberies at knifepoint have shot up 35 per cent and separate NHS figures show hospital admissions from knife attacks are also up by seven per cent.

Homicide levels have been steadily climbing for three years, increasing by nine per cent last year to a total of 653 murders and manslaughters.

Police leaders blamed the rise on cuts to officer numbers, while Police Minister Nick Hurd said the Government was taking ‘urgent action’ to stop violent crimes.