The Met Police recorded 108 homicide victims in the year to March – down from 119 the year before reports Clara Margotin, Data Reporter

A police officer in high vis in front of a cordon — Police forces in England and Wales recorded 262 homicides using a sharp instrument in the year to March – (Credit – Radar)

Police in London recorded fewer homicide victims last year, new figures show.

It comes as police forces across England and Wales recorded the lowest annual number of homicides since 2016-17, excluding 2020-21, which was affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Office for National Statistics figures show the Met Police recorded 108 homicide victims in the year to March – down from 119 the year before.

It meant there were 13.5 victims per million residents over the last three years.

Cleveland had the highest rate at 17.9 per million people, while Cheshire had the lowest at three.

Nationally, the number of victims fell by 3% from 585 to 570 last year, with a rate of 9.5 homicides per million people.

Excluding 2020-21, it was the lowest number since 2016-17, when 538 homicide victims were recorded.

Homicide figures include murder, manslaughter and infanticide incidents. One incident can have multiple victims.

Police forces in England and Wales recorded 262 homicides using a sharp instrument in the year to March, which was by far the most common method.

Teenage victims were far more likely to be killed by a knife or a sharp instrument (83% of homicides) than victims of all ages (46%).

The figures also show a black person was more than four times more likely to be killed by homicide than a white person.

Ellen Milazzo, head of the National Homicide Service at the charity Victim Support, welcomed the fall in the number of homicides, but warned of the “very worrying” proportion of young people falling victim to knife crime.

She said: “Whilst it’s positive to see a small drop in the number of homicides, this doesn’t necessarily reflect a long-term downward trend, as the number of homicides has been similar for decades.

“The prevalence of young people killed by a knife or sharp instrument is also very worrying and we urgently need to take action on youth violence.”

She added homicide “changes families forever, and can traumatise communities”, and those affected by violent crime can see support from the National Homicide Service.

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