Avon and Somerset Police report a drop in knife robberies
The force recorded a 14% drop
Last updated 15th Oct 2025
The number of robberies involving a knife, or the threat of one, has fallen across Avon and Somerset.
The force recorded a 14% drop, or 82 fewer offences, since June 2024 compared to the year before.
A dedicated taskforce was set up in October 2024 after seeing a stark rise in incidents, bringing together Avon & Somerset, and six other forces across the country
Interventions include the use of hotspot policing, acting on better intelligence on offenders, increased patrols using knife arches, drones and plain clothes officers.
With efforts continuing throughout the past year, all seven police force areas are now seeing a reduction in robberies involving a knife.
Crime & Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:
“Those who have been robbed at knifepoint know how terrifying and traumatic that experience can be, and this government took immediate action through the Plan for Change to reverse this troubling trend.
“Through relentless focus, targeted policing and strong partnerships, we are turning this worrying rise into a sustained fall, and we have also started to see a reduction in overall knife crime for the first time in four years.
“But there is so much more to do, which is why we are bringing in the toughest measures yet to crack down on the online sale of weapons and invest in the futures of our young people to set them on a better path.”
Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner and mother to Ronan Kanda, said:
“The statistics show that the Government has taken a proactive approach to reducing knife-enabled robberies.
“The significant drop we are seeing is a positive sign and a step closer to the Government’s mission of halving knife crime within a decade — something I’m confident we will achieve with the continued support and hard work of campaigners and the Government alike.”
Patrick Green, CEO for the Ben Kinsella Trust, said:
"Reducing knife crime is about more than just bringing down crime statistics; it’s about making a profound investment in public safety and the future of our young people.
"When we successfully drive down knife-enabled robbery, we actively remove the fear that can often make people feel unsafe.
"Critically, this also helps dismantle the dangerous misconception that leads some young people to believe they must carry a weapon for 'protection'.
"The government’s targeted strategy to reduce knife-enabled robberies is crucial, because it also addresses the clear and harmful connection between robbery and the fear it can instil in young people.”