Youth knife crime reduced, figures show

Knife crime involving young people on Teesside fell by 12%, the latest figures from Cleveland Police have shown.

Throughout 2024 there were 268 offences involving those aged under 24, against 305 in the previous year.

The force claimed the reduction was down to a "combination of action, education and engagement".

However it said there was still a long way to go and it would continue to work within communities to encourage youngsters to "ditch the blade".

One of the Cleveland Police campaigns included a video focused on two boys, one the victim of a knife attack and the other the perpetrator, showing both before the attack and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, patrols and searches in targeted locations resulted in a slaight increase in arrests for possession of blades.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker said: "We will continue with everything we are currently doing to drive down the numbers of young people carrying knives.

"We need parents, carers and our communities to work closely with us to show our younger generation that they can have a bright future if they ditch the blade."

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