275 slain with knives in one year

MORE than five people a week were stabbed to death last year with 140 serious knife offences each day across the country.

There were 275 murders with a bladed weapon across England and Wales in 2019-20 – an average of 5.3 a week and a six per cent rise from the 259 in 2018-19.

The death toll was only seven short of the 282 in 2017-18, which was the highest since 1946.

There were also a total of 49,969 serious offences where knives were used – nearly 140 each day – a near five per cent year-on-year rise.

The figures from the Home Office show over the 12 months there were also 473 attempted murders and 534 rapes by knife attackers.

It comes after a series of murders of teenagers where other teens have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the knife attacks.

Romario Opia, 15, was stabbed to death on the way to a chip shop in Islington, north London, on Monday. A foot-long so-called zombie knife was found nearby and a 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder.

It was four days after Keon Lincoln, 15, was shot and stabbed to death outside his home in Birmingham. Six teenagers, aged from 14 to 16, and a man aged 21 have been arrested in connection with the murder. Two days before, Anas Mezenner, 17, died following a stabbing near his home in Haringey, north London. A 14-year-old and three 16-year-old boys have been charged with murder.

Stuart Newton, 41, from Maghull, Liverpool, is working to help steer youths away from gangs and crime through boxing and other sports after surviving a horrific knife attack in summer 2019. He was volunteering with ex-offenders and had taken two men to the Sonfest music festival in Southport when one attacked him from behind.

Mr Newton was knifed in the neck and stomach and lost so much blood he was four minutes from death. He has been left with no spleen.

He said: “Victims and perpetrators are getting younger and younger and the pandemic has caused a lot of issues with education and schools closed and children isolated.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have committed £176.5million over two years to address the drivers of serious violence.”