Targeted Policing Leads to Decline in Knife Robberies Across Crime Hotspots

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Knife-related robberies have fallen across several of the United Kingdom’s worst-affected regions, according to newly released Home Office data. The figures show a 6 per cent drop in incidents involving the use or threat of a knife, following increased police activity in key urban centres.

The decrease comes after the formation of a specialist task force in October last year, focusing on seven forces: the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Avon and Somerset, and the British Transport Police. These forces had previously accounted for around 70 per cent of all knife-enabled robberies nationwide.

Efforts have included the use of knife arches, drones, sniffer dogs, and heightened patrols, both uniformed and undercover. The West Midlands recorded the largest year-on-year decrease at 25 per cent, while Greater Manchester experienced a 4 per cent rise, indicating that results have been uneven across the country.

A ban on so-called “ninja swords” is set to come into effect on Friday, as part of a broader push to curb knife crime. Over 1,000 of the weapons have already been handed in under a voluntary surrender scheme. This forms part of new legislation introduced following the murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda by an individual who had purchased such a weapon online.

The new measures, referred to as Ronan’s Law, aim to prevent the sale of bladed weapons to underage or suspicious buyers by requiring retailers to report irregular purchases, enforce age verification, and face financial penalties if their platforms are found to be facilitating illegal transactions. Ronan’s mother, Pooja Kanda, has spoken publicly in favour of the changes, describing the law as an important step toward greater accountability.

Despite the drop in robbery figures, knife crime remains a pressing concern, particularly in London, which continues to lead national figures. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the state of crime in the capital, citing the Mayor’s record as one of failure.

“Under Labour’s Mayor, the capital has become Britain’s knife crime capital, accounting for over 32 per cent of all knife crime and over 45 per cent of knife-point robberies in England,” Philp said. “Stop and search has collapsed, yet Sadiq Khan spends more time pontificating than trying to make London safe. Labour is weak on crime, soft on criminals, and too scared to confront the reality on our streets. It’s time for the Labour government and Labour Mayor to wake up and get a grip, or get out of the way.”

As part of further policing initiatives, the Home Office has announced that a weapons surrender vehicle will be present at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, aimed at encouraging the safe disposal of knives and other banned items.

While recent data shows a modest improvement, critics argue that continued progress will depend on consistent enforcement, robust sentencing, and a clear break from politically driven policies that have failed to address rising street violence in key areas.