More than 80,000 knives and dangerous weapons have been removed or seized across Britain since July 2024, with knife-enabled robbery also falling sharply in the areas most affected.
The total of 80,190 includes weapons handed in through Home Office surrender schemes, police and Border Force seizures, and activity targeting knife crime hotspots and criminal gangs. Around 100 weapons a day have been taken out of circulation.
Robbery falls in seven key police areas
Knife-enabled robbery has dropped by 24% since June 2024 across the seven forces in the Home Office-led Knife Enabled Robbery Group. The reduction amounts to 3,810 fewer recorded robberies across the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset, and British Transport Police.
August’s intensified surrender activity brought in 3,811 weapons. Of those, 3,049 were deposited in Word 4 Weapons bins and 762 were handed to the FazAmnesty mobile van. Eight new bins in Yorkshire collected 583 weapons during the month.
Across England and Wales, knife crime is down 11% since summer 2024, while hospital admissions after assaults involving a sharp object have fallen 16%. Admissions among under-25s are down 19%.
Why it matters for Britain
Removing dangerous weapons and reducing robberies should make public spaces safer for communities and transport users. The figures also point to a practical role for easy-to-access surrender schemes, alongside targeted policing and prevention work with young people.
