- A national analysis reveals that at least two school-aged children die monthly from knife injuries in England, with fatalities among under-17s rising from 21 in 2019/20 to 36 in 2023/24.
- Most of these deaths result from a single stab wound, with 75 per cent caused by injuries to the chest and neck, and 60 per cent of victims dying before reaching hospital.
- Research on 145 child victims between 2019 and 2024 found 90 per cent were male, with an average age of 14.4 years, and 75 per cent came from the most deprived areas.
- Young people of Black or Black British ethnicity were approximately 13 times more likely to die from a knife-related injury than White children, with this group in urban deprived areas identified as being at highest risk.
- Many child victims had prior contact with statutory services and experienced adverse childhood events, including domestic violence, abuse, and household substance abuse, highlighting significant gaps in early intervention and the need for comprehensive prevention strategies.
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