West Midlands knife crime nearly doubles in just two years
Knife crime in the West Midlands has shot up in the last two years, latest figures show.
There were 654 knife crimes recorded between October and December last year – around seven a day.
This compares with 388 in the same period in 2014 – showing an increase of 68.5 per cent.
The figures are revealed just days after yet another violent death on the streets of the Black Country.
James Brindley, aged 26, died in his parents’ arms after being stabbed on Little Aston Road in Aldridge on Friday night.
He was making his way home after a night out when he was attacked.
West Midlands Police is now appealing for information on two men who were seen arguing with Mr Brindley moments before his death.
They are thought to have run off through The Croft park around the time.
In the last five years a total of 8,519 knife crimes have been committed across the whole of the West Midlands.
This figure includes 64 homicides, which include murder or manslaughter, and 125 attempted murders.
This averages out at more than four homicides or attempted murders a month since 2012 across the region.
The number of knife crimes has also increased every quarter bar one since December 2014.
The worst period for homicides was between January and March 2015 when there was nine incidents. The worst for attempted murder was between October and December 2015 with 13.
Not a single three month period has gone by since 2012 when there has not been an incident of attempted murder involving a knife. October to December of 2012 is the only period without a knife-related death.
The most recent quarter on record, between October and December last year, has recorded the highest number of knife crimes in the past five years.
West Midlands Police spokeswoman Kate Baker said: “The rise in knife crime in the West Midlands mirrors an increase nationally but it’s important to remember not all knife crime offences result in injury being caused and only a small proportion of recorded incidents result in someone being hurt.”
