Violent crime recorded by police rises by 19 per cent

Knife crime in England and Wales has risen to record levels, according to official figures. There’s been a 19 per cent increase in the number of violent crimes recorded by the police, with knife crime up 6 per cent and the highest number of homicides for over a decade.

In the West Midlands, violent crime has soared by 29 per cent, prompting calls for more resources from those tasked with policing the region.

Our Home Affairs correspondent Darshna Soni has been to Dudley where she met a mother who says her 14-year-old son is “lucky to be alive” after he was stabbed last week.