According to the Office of National Statistics, overall crime rates are in decline with total police recorded crime decreasing by 4% in England and Wales in the 12 months ending June 2020 to approximately 5.8 million offences. Crime levels from April to June 2020 were much lower than in April to June 2019 with 19% less crime due to the Covid-19 lockdown.  

However, during this period police recorded sharp rises of drug offences and anti-social behaviour incidents. Knife crime and youth violence have risen in many parts of the UK. Knife crime is at its highest recorded level in the past 10 years, with 46,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales in the year ending March 2020. 

As the demand for policing services continues to increase, the government’s campaign to recruit 20,000 additional officers over the next three years is ahead of schedule, with almost 6,000 new officers joining up to the end of September 2020.  

The Future of Gang and Knife Crime Prevention 2021 will explore the current challenges of policing and the key issues to be tackled. Spread over two half-day sessions, it will feature policy updates and case study presentations focusing on a wide range of topics such as leadership, workforce development, data-driven policing, recruitment, reducing gang violence, county lines and reducing reoffending.