Single stab wounds account for most child knife deaths in England

Researchers found about two school-aged children die each month in England from knife injuries, most often from a single stab wound, and reported that deaths among under-17s rose from 21 in 2019–20 to 36 in 2023–24.

New national analyses led by the University of Bristol report that 145 school-aged children in England died in stabbings between 2019 and 2024. The studies combined records from the National Child Mortality Database with hospital, social care and police data to build a national picture. The research found the average age of victims was 14 and that most fatalities followed a single stab wound. The work is the first to bring these sources together for this issue. Key findings: - About 145 children under 17 died in stabbings between 2019–2024, roughly two school-aged children per month. - Most fatalities were reported as resulting from a single stab wound, and the average age of victims was 14. - The combined studies show an increase in deaths from 21 in 2019–20 to 36 in 2023–24. - Children of Black or Black British ethnicity were reported as around 13 times more likely to die from knife-related injury; many victims had prior contact with support services and adverse childhood experiences. Summary: The analysis highlights a rise in child knife fatalities and marked disparities by ethnicity. The government has published a Knife Crime strategy and ministers have announced plans for new laws on online sales and gang activity, and researchers have called for changes to how children access specialist services.