Number of homicide offences in the UK 2020, by region

In 2019/20 there were 130 homicide offences recorded in London, the most of any region of the United Kingdom during that time period. North West England, which includes the large city of Manchester had 114 homicides, and had the second highest number of homicides. The 100 homicides recorded in East England include a single incident in which 39 migrants were found dead in a lorry in Essex.

 Knives used in almost half of all murders

  In 2018/19 a knife or other sharp instrument was used in 46 percent of all murders in England and Wales, making this, by far, the most common method of killing in that reporting year. The overall number of knife crime offences in England and Wales decreased between 2010 and 2014, before rising increasing again between 2014 and 2018, resulting in just over 21 thousand offences in 2018.

Regional comparisons

  While crime in London has drawn widespread media attention in recent years, the region with the highest homicide rate in England and Wales was the East of England region. The region with the lowest homicide rate was South West England.