Knives or other sharp objects are the enduring weapon of choice for murderers and robbers, according to yesterday’s crime figures.

Fatal stabbings reached a record high in England and Wales last year, despite a government drive to tackle knife-crime in ten “hotspot” areas of the country. More worryingly for the Government, robberies at knifepoint on the street jumped by almost a fifth in the year to the end of September. However, they make up less than one quarter of all robberies.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said: “We remain concerned about serious violence, and in particular knife crime. That is why we are taking targeted action in ten areas.” She said that 700 mobile airport-style security “arches and wands” had been provided to police in the ten areas to reassure the public and get knives off the streets.

Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “It is particularly alarming that robberies involving knives have soared and that fatal stabbings are at an all-time high. The Government’s complacency is proving fatal.”

While fatal stabbings increased last year, gun-crime deaths fell from 59 to 52. Gun crime overall remains rare in England and Wales, and more than half of all recorded offences are concentrated in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

Overall the number of homicides rose by 15 to 773. This compares with a figure of about 280 homicides in the middle of the last century.

The number of fatal stabbings increased by one to 270 last year – the highest figure since 1977, when the homicide index was introduced by the Home Office. In spite of the increase over the years in fatal stabbings, as a proportion of all homicides deaths caused by a knife or other sharp instrument have remained broadly stable for the past 30 years. Thirty-three per cent of homicides in 1977 were a result of a stabbing, compared with 35 per cent last year. The proportion peaked at 39 per cent in 1986.

The second-most common method of homicide involving males was for the victim to be hit or kicked; for women it was being strangled.

Women are more likely to know their killers than men. Almost three quarters of women knew the main suspect accused of killing them, compared with fewer than half of male victims.

Although the fear of being attacked by a stranger remains strong, almost 60 per cent of female victims are killed by their partner, ex-partner, lover or other family member.

Over the past five years the proportion of female victims killed by a stranger has remained stable at about 21 per cent, compared with 41 per cent for male victims.

Overall the risk of being a murder victim in England and Wales was 14.1 per million population. The group most at risk were children under 1 year old, where the figure was 36 per million population.

The annual homicide bulletin published by the Home Office showed an increase in the number of under16s who were killed by their parents, from 35 to 43 – representing 62 per cent of all homicide victims under the age of 16.

The second-most vulnerable group were those aged 16-29, at a rate of 24 per million population. Males in this age group were most at risk, at 37 per million population.

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