February 06, 2026 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Knife Crime
Request Number: FOI/16305
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Knife Crime
Subject: Stabbing
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.
Request
I would like to submit a refined request for the number of recorded crime selected violent and sexual offences involving knives or sharp instruments that have since resulted in a charge/summons outcome.
Answer
Please find below the number of knife/sharp instruments offences which have since resulted in a charge/summons outcome applied.
Police recorded crime selected violent and sexual offences involving knife or sharp instruments which have since resulted in a charge/summons outcome in Northern Ireland ( 1 January
2020 – 30 September 2025)
| Year | Charge/Summon |
| 2020 | 269 |
| 2021 | 259 |
| 2022 | 233 |
| 2023 | 234 |
| 2024 | 204 |
| 2025 (01 Jan - 30 Sep) | 138 |
A sharp instrument is any object that pierces the skin (or in the case of a threat, is capable of piercing the skin).The knife and sharp instrument figures presented here are based on weapon details taken from a live operational system and are therefore subject to change.
The following offences are included: Homicide, actual bodily harm & grievous bodily harm, robbery, threats to kill and rape & sexual assaults.
Outcome information is subject to change as the result of ongoing investigations, particularly in respect of crimes recorded more recently.
Information from 1st April 2025 is subject ongoing validation and quality assurance processes until publication in May 2026.