The trend was highlighted in figures obtained by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Metropolitan Police Service by Newsquest London.

It is the most recent comparable data available, after an update to the Met’s procedure for logging incidents in 2024 changed the way offences are recorded.

The result has meant that data from 2023 and earlier can now not accurately be compared against 2024 knife crime data, or that which has been recorded thus far for 2025.

According to the Met, the change to the system has caused some cases of incomplete data, particularly in categories relating to age and date of birth.

A spokesperson said: “We reviewed our recording of offences where a knife or sharp instrument has been used from April 2024 onwards.

“This has shown over counting for some crime types and under counting for others.

“These records have been corrected which has resulted in a small overall increase in crimes that have been enabled by the use or threat of a knife or sharp instrument and, as in this case, a reduction in offences resulting in an injury.”

According to 2023 figures, 1,187 offences where a person aged 18 or under was injured by a knife were recorded, making it the year that saw the highest level of offending in London since 2019 when 1,364 offences were recorded.

Prior to the 2019 figures, 2017 saw the highest number of young people being injured with knives from the data set, which reaches back to 2015. 

This type of offending was up by 103 incidents in 2023 from the 2022 records.

However, for those aged 25 and under, a recent figure provided by the Mayor of London’s office said that knife crime with injury has fallen by 21 per cent since May 2016.

Sir Sadiq Khan’s office said: “Nearly 90 per cent of young people aged up to 18 arrested for violent offences do not reoffend over the next 12 months following engagement with a youth worker in custody.”

It comes after the family of a boy stabbed to death in Abbey Wood called for change to the system in the way it deals with first time and repeat offenders of knife crime.

Another knife crime related offence that saw an increase in 2023 is the count of incidents that occurred at a school in London involving those aged 18 or under.

 

According to the Met’s figures, 69 knife crime offences at London schools involving young people were recorded in the year, with six of these at schools in Greenwich.

This was an increase in offences compared to the 56 recorded in 2022.

Once again, the trend shows that this is the highest spike in offences since 2019 when the Met dealt with 91 offences in this category.

Keith Fraser, chair of the Youth Justice Board, said most children caught with a knife are carrying it for possession, “often because they are scared”.

The Youth Justice Board helps to monitor the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services in England and Wales. 

It focuses and provides an expert view on how to achieve the best outcomes for youth offenders and victims of crime. 

Mr Fraser said: “Knife crime ruins lives and any rise at any time is unacceptable. Every single incident means another victim, another family devastated, another community living in fear, and another child entering the justice system.

“Fear is not an excuse – it’s a warning sign that we must act early to stop knives being carried in the first place.”

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“We need to get behind the data and really understand what is happening for sustainable solutions.”

He said evidence showed that enforcement alone will not keep people safe.

“The most effective action combines tough disruption of knife crime with targeted programmes that steer children away from violence.

“That means skills training, diversion from crime, practical support in education and for children to have trusted adults in their lives — measures proven to cut knife carrying and reoffending.

“We also need to tackle the root causes: poverty, exclusion, and the conditions that put knives in children’s hands.

“Every intervention must be focused on preventing harm, reducing the number of victims and creating safer communities.”