New figures have revealed a spike in the number of serious violent crimes involving knives in the North East.
Across the Northumbria Police area, there were 60 more robberies where a blade was used in 2022 compared to the previous year and 33 more threats to kill. The statistics, which cover Northumberland and the five boroughs of Tyne and Wear, also show jumps in the number of rapes and attempted murders where knives were used.
Kim McGuinness, the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said that knife crime was a “real concern” for the region. A report of hers that will be presented to councillors on Tuesday provides new data on a series of knife-enabled serious violent crimes, with the total number increasing from 882 in 2021 to 981 in 2022.
