63% Rise In Sheffield Knife Crime

There has been a 63% rise in knife crime over the last five years in Sheffield. 

While there were a total of 271 incidents in 2015, this figure rose to 441 incidents in 2019. The number of knife crimes in the city peaked in 2017, when there were 489. 

Over the five year time frame, two attempted murders rose to 12. Assault with intent to cause serious harm rose from 86 to 191, though assault with injury fell, from 61 to 53, as did rape, from four to two. Rape involving a knife peaked in 2016, with seven occurrences.

Threats to kill rose from seven to 24 over the five years, rising 170% between 2016 and 2017 as 10 threats to kill grew to 27 threats of this nature.

Robbery involving knife crime also increased, from 110 incidents in 2015 to 159 incidents in 2019.

The media literacy charity The Student View made the findings following a Freedom of Information request submitted to South Yorkshire Police.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Henderson, force lead for armed criminality at South Yorkshire Police, said: “Tackling knife crime remains a top priority for us and I would like our communities to rest assured that we are committed to confronting this issue and the behaviours that fuel it head on.

“While strong policing forms part of our approach, our partnership with stakeholders and their strategies remains key and we have robust plans in place.

“In September 2019, we launched our Violence Reduction Unit and set up our county-wide Serious Violent Crime Task Force, which continue to make progress. A vital part of the work they undertake is to provide educational opportunities for those in our communities who may be susceptible to becoming involved in this type of criminality.

“Everyone has a role to play in this, from our schools and youth groups through to our health professionals and the wider criminal justice services. We also want to help parents, families, carers and communities to have the confidence to reject some of these negative lifestyle choices and beliefs that leave young people vulnerable to street violence.

“We also want to give people the confidence to speak to us. I’d urge anyone with concerns or information to speak to us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via their website Crimestoppers-org.uk.”