The Home Office has reported that knife-related homicides across the UK have dropped by 26% under this Government, reaching their lowest level in 35 years.
This major progress, which is part of an 11% overall drop in national knife crime since 2024, has been welcomed by Amanda Martin MP, who has been taking action to reduce knife crime and making our city’s streets safer.
Action to date by the Government includes:
- Banning zombie-style knives and machetes
- Setting a commitment to halve knife crime by 2035
- Allocating an additional 65 neighbourhood police officers to the local police force
- Introducing targeted support for schools in high-risk areas to prevent young people from being drawn into violence
- Establishing the Safety In & Around Schools Partnership to improve safety on journeys to and from school
- Increasing funding for the local police force by £20.5 Million for 2025/26
- Rolling out new mapping technology allowing police to pinpoint exactly where and when knife crime is most likely to occur
- Targeting usage of knife arches, CCTV and Live Facial Recognition to deter offending and catch criminals.
These actions, alongside other measures, have already resulted in a 13.4% reduction in knife crime across Portsmouth between January 2025 and January 2026.
Additionally, it is reported that within the same timeframe Portsmouth has seen a 14.6% reduction in most serious violence.
Commenting, Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, said: “Keeping people safe and making sure our streets are places where everyone can feel secure has always been a priority for me. That’s why I’ve been working alongside our police, schools, community organisations and local partners to tackle knife crime and crucially, prevent young people from being drawn into violence in the first place.
“Knife crime can have devastating consequences for victims, families and communities. So it is encouraging to see these figures showing that action is making a difference, both nationally and here in Portsmouth, where knife crime has fallen by 13.4%.
“But there can be no complacency. Every knife taken off our streets and every young person supported away from violence is a step in the right direction. We must keep investing in prevention, backing our police and targeting those who carry and use dangerous weapons.
“I will continue working to make sure Portsmouth gets the support it needs and that we act early, focus resources where they can have the greatest impact, and do everything we can to make knife-free streets a reality.”
In July 2025, the Home Office also launched a dedicated surrender scheme, which has seen knives and weapons handed in at a mobile surrender van operated by FazAmnesty. Blades like those surrendered have been used in violent crimes and caused devastation to communities across the country.
Stop off points for the mobile surrender van have been agreed with local violence reduction partnerships, policing and community safety partners. This helps ensure support is focused in areas most affected by knife crime and serious violence.
The van operates on a ‘no questions asked’ basis in order to encourage people who may otherwise be reluctant to hand over their weapons in fear of the consequences. The weapons, which must be wrapped and sealed in a box or bag, will be disposed of safely and securely.
Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said: “Every dangerous weapon that has been surrendered so far is a weapon off our streets and a community made that little bit safer.
“That’s why we’re going further and making it easier for more people in more places to do the right thing and hand over their knives.
“Knife crime is down by 11% since the general election, but we will not stop until we meet our commitment of halving knife crime in a decade.”
People can find the locations of the mobile surrender van on GOV.UK. The online guidance also explains how to safely and responsibly transport and deposit a knife or weapon. All weapons handed in through the scheme will be securely disposed of.
