Number of homicide offences in the UK 2021, by region

In 2020/21 there were 119 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 112 homicides, and had the second highest number of homicides.

 Knives used in almost half of all murders

  In 2019/20 a knife or other sharp instrument was used in 40 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 2019, resulting in just over 22.8 thousand offences in 2019.

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.