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| First knife crime rise in four years | First knife crime rise in four years |
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| Knife crime across England and Wales has risen for the first time in four years, official figures have revealed. | Knife crime across England and Wales has risen for the first time in four years, official figures have revealed. |
| Police recorded 26,370 offences in 2014/15, up from 25,974 the previous year - breaking a downward trend since 2010/11. | Police recorded 26,370 offences in 2014/15, up from 25,974 the previous year - breaking a downward trend since 2010/11. |
| The Office for National Statistics said the increase was "real" and was unlikely to be due to changes in police recording practices. | The Office for National Statistics said the increase was "real" and was unlikely to be due to changes in police recording practices. |
| The separate Crime Survey for England and Wales said that crime fell by 7%. | The separate Crime Survey for England and Wales said that crime fell by 7%. |
| It suggested that crime had fallen to its lowest level since 1981, estimating that there were 6.8 million crimes in 2014/15. | It suggested that crime had fallen to its lowest level since 1981, estimating that there were 6.8 million crimes in 2014/15. |
| The survey is a rolling project that interviews people about their experiences of crime, whether or not they have gone to the police. | The survey is a rolling project that interviews people about their experiences of crime, whether or not they have gone to the police. |
| In contrast, the ONS data suggested that police recorded crime increased by 3%, with 3.8 million offences recorded in the year ending March 2015. | In contrast, the ONS data suggested that police recorded crime increased by 3%, with 3.8 million offences recorded in the year ending March 2015. |
| The ONS said this was driven by a 23% rise in violence against the person offences - but it said this increase was thought to reflect changes in recording practices. | The ONS said this was driven by a 23% rise in violence against the person offences - but it said this increase was thought to reflect changes in recording practices. |
| It comes ahead of tougher penalties, due to come into force tomorrow, that will mean adults convicted more than once of being in possession of a blade face a minimum six month prison sentence and a maximum of four years. | It comes ahead of tougher penalties, due to come into force tomorrow, that will mean adults convicted more than once of being in possession of a blade face a minimum six month prison sentence and a maximum of four years. |
| Young offenders, aged 16 and 17, will face a minimum four month detention and training order. | Young offenders, aged 16 and 17, will face a minimum four month detention and training order. |
| The ONS data showed that possession of knife offences rose by 10%, sexual assaults with knives went up 28%, and knife assaults increased by 13% from 11,911 to 13,488 offences. | The ONS data showed that possession of knife offences rose by 10%, sexual assaults with knives went up 28%, and knife assaults increased by 13% from 11,911 to 13,488 offences. |
| There was a decrease in robberies involving knives, down 14% from 11,927 to 10,270. | There was a decrease in robberies involving knives, down 14% from 11,927 to 10,270. |
| The statistics also showed: | The statistics also showed: |
| In contrast, the latest estimate from the Crime Survey for England and Wales showed no significant change in the proportion of adults aged 16-59 who reported being a victim of a sexual assault. | In contrast, the latest estimate from the Crime Survey for England and Wales showed no significant change in the proportion of adults aged 16-59 who reported being a victim of a sexual assault. |
| National Police Chiefs' Council lead for crime recording, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: "We are encouraged to see crime continuing to fall, police recording of crime becoming more accurate and victims more willing to report crime to the police." | National Police Chiefs' Council lead for crime recording, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: "We are encouraged to see crime continuing to fall, police recording of crime becoming more accurate and victims more willing to report crime to the police." |
| Mr Farrar said that a 30% increase in records of violence without injury and 37% rise in records of sexual offences were as a result of improved recording practices and greater victim confidence to report. | Mr Farrar said that a 30% increase in records of violence without injury and 37% rise in records of sexual offences were as a result of improved recording practices and greater victim confidence to report. |
| He said it did not indicate a marked rise in offending. | He said it did not indicate a marked rise in offending. |
| Mark Castle, chief executive of Victim Support said: "As a charity which has supported thousands of victims of knife crimes we know how devastating these types of offences can be, particularly for young people and their families. | Mark Castle, chief executive of Victim Support said: "As a charity which has supported thousands of victims of knife crimes we know how devastating these types of offences can be, particularly for young people and their families. |
| "After years of success in driving knife crime down, this rise is a worrying development and efforts to educate people about the dangers of carrying knives must be stepped up." | "After years of success in driving knife crime down, this rise is a worrying development and efforts to educate people about the dangers of carrying knives must be stepped up." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent |
| These figures won't be a surprise to many senior police officers. The signs of a statistical U-turn began appearing last year - and last month's figures showed a definite rise in injuries in London. | These figures won't be a surprise to many senior police officers. The signs of a statistical U-turn began appearing last year - and last month's figures showed a definite rise in injuries in London. |
| So what's going on? Knife crime has been falling in England and Wales since a huge and concerted police effort in 10 areas after record figures in 2008. | So what's going on? Knife crime has been falling in England and Wales since a huge and concerted police effort in 10 areas after record figures in 2008. |
| That long-term operation included a lot of intelligence-led stop and search operations with officers asking communities to identify the gangs and riskier street corners. | That long-term operation included a lot of intelligence-led stop and search operations with officers asking communities to identify the gangs and riskier street corners. |
| But stop and search has been falling after the home secretary told forces to rethink how they're using it. | But stop and search has been falling after the home secretary told forces to rethink how they're using it. |
| She said nobody wins when it's used poorly - particularly if used unfairly against young black men. | She said nobody wins when it's used poorly - particularly if used unfairly against young black men. |
| So if the rise in knife offences is linked to that fall in using stop and search, can the police find a way to use it intelligently to keep weapons off the streets? | So if the rise in knife offences is linked to that fall in using stop and search, can the police find a way to use it intelligently to keep weapons off the streets? |
| What's happening with knife crime? |