Number charged with carrying knives drops 50% - despite stabbing explosion

The number of people charged with possessing a knife in the Britain's stabbing hotspot has fallen by half in the past four years, shocking new figures revealed today.

A total of 22 teenagers have died violently in London so far this year - with the total amount likely to exceed last year’s 27 deaths.

But  new Scotland Yard figures show that in he 12 months to April this year  just 1,361 people were charged with possession of a knife - falling from 2,810 in 2004.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Tackling knife crime is a top priority for the Met with enforcement activity taking place across the capital every day under Operation Blunt 2, which was launched in May.

‘As a result more people are being arrested and charged for carrying knives.

'Since the beginning of April this year, 1187 people (887 adults and 300 youths) have been charged with possession of a knife or sharp instrument.

‘That represents 88 per cent of all of those arrested for this offence.

'The MPS is making major improvements in charging people caught carrying knives with the charge rate having risen to over 90 per cent in recent weeks.

‘The MPS will continue to monitor its performance and will maintain a positive charging policy to deter people from carrying knives on the streets of London.

‘Co-ordinated enforcement activity is taking place across all 32 boroughs under Blunt 2 and we are deploying a dedicated taskforce in the boroughs most affected.’

He said that since Blunt 2 was launched officers had conducted 48,869 stop and searches, seized 1,445 knives, carried out more than 340 screening arch operations and arrested more than 2,000 people.

Senior officers found that in knife crime hotspots around one in 50 people searched was carrying a weapon.

Last month the head of the Met Police said judges and magistrates must do more to reflect the fear of knife crime.

Sir Ian Blair said those caught with a blade or involved in knife violence should expect to be jailed.

Sir Ian and London mayor Boris Johnson have pledged to do everything they can to stem the tide of knife murders and attacks among young people.