The Newshound

London records 13,649 knife crimes in a year as mayor pushes 'community service' instead of school exclusions

From the Newshound archive · first published 20 September 2026 · last updated 21 September 2026.

Over 3,000 of London's 13,649 knife-crime victims last year were under 17, including 43 attacks on children aged under 10.
Over 3,000 of London's 13,649 knife-crime victims last year were under 17, including 43 attacks on children aged under 10.
London knife crime at 13,649 cases in a year, as Newham topped the boroughs and pupils are offered community service instead of exclusion to curb violence.
London knife crime at 13,649 cases in a year, as Newham topped the boroughs and pupils are offered community service instead of exclusion to curb violence.

More than 13,000 knife offences were logged across London in the twelve months to August 2026, with Newham topping the borough table at 824 cases and Westminster recording 635 despite its affluent reputation. Over 3,000 victims were under 17, and 43 knife crimes involved a child under 10. Sadiq Khan is championing a policy of keeping disruptive pupils in school rather than excluding them, with St Augustine's High School in Kilburn replacing detention with litter-picking and canteen duties as punishment.

Newham was London's worst borough for knife crime with 824 cases; Richmond-upon-Thames recorded the fewest, at just 116.

Khan said that pupils doing 'community service' at break time gives them 'ownership of the school' and helps cut violence.

Nearly half of all 13,548 victims were aged 25 or younger, with over half of all incidents linked to robbery.

MoreMetroMap shows London's knife crime hotspots including posh boroughLBCLondon’s strongest defence against knife crime is keeping children in primary schoolLBCChildren given ‘community service’ instead of detention - after schools told to 'include' pupils to protect them from knife crime
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