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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of reported crimes were (a) injured and (b) killed by knives or other bladed weapons in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [193041] Ms Blears: Information on victims of recorded crime injured by knives is not collected centrally. The British Crime Survey (BCS) collects information on the use of weapons in violent incidents, whether or not the incident was reported to the police. The 2002-03 BCS estimates that weapons were used in 26 per cent. of violent incidents. A knife was used in 8 per cent. of violent incidents, and another type of stabbing implement was used in 2 per cent. of violent incidents (more than one type of weapon could be used in an incident). These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2002-03 Supplementary Tables: Nature of burglary, vehicle and violent crime, an internet only publication available at: www.homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/crimeew0203 tables bvv.html However the use of a weapon does not necessarily mean that injuries were sustained as the weapon may have been used to threaten the victim. No data is available from the BCS on injuries caused by a weapon, only on injuries sustained in violent incidents generally. Injuries were sustained in 50 per cent. of violent incidents in the 2003-04 BCS. Cuts were sustained in 14 per cent. of violent incidents where injury occurred (more than one type of injury could have occurred); however these were not necessarily caused by a weapon. These figures were published in Crime in England and Wales 2003-04. Statistics on victims of homicide killed with a sharp instrument are published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest available figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 01/04, "Crime in England and Wales 2002-03: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime". For 2002-03, there were 272 currently recorded homicides where the method of killing involved a sharp instrument.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c299-300W; 193041

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Death Injuries Offensive weapons Victims

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk