#KNIVESCOSTLIVES - our investigation reveals true scale of knife crime in Swindon
Reports of serious knife crime across the town have almost tripled since 2012
This morning, Greatest Hits Radio Swindon is launching #KnivesCostLives, investigating the true extent of knife crime across the town.
Following a series of stabbings that have shattered local families over recent years, we have gathered exclusive data to shine a light on the issue.
Our Freedom of Information request focussed solely on knife crime within the Swindon borough. The results are damning:
- Over the past decade, reports of *serious knife crimes have almost tripled. In 2022, police received 87 reports. That same figure was 34 in 2012.
- During the first half of this year alone, there were 61 reports of serious knife crime. That means, on average, more than two reports were made every single week.
- Reports of **non-serious knife crimes are almost four times higher than a decade ago. 404 reports were made last year, compared with 107 in 2012.
- The number of people charged or summoned to court for possession of a knife has more than doubled over the past decade. The figure was 56 in 2022, but just 26 10 years earlier.
The real impact of knife crime on Swindon's communities
Amid all these statistics are real people, whose lives will never be the same again because of knife crime. This is certainly the case for the family of Owen Dunn.
The 18-year-old was on the way to see his girlfriend when he was stabbed in Haydon End, North Swindon, on 4 December 2022. He died shortly afterwards.
In the months that followed, people have continued to lay tributes - including flowers, messages and football shirts - on Mazurek Way, the road where Owen died. His funeral at Kingsdown Crematorium was also attended by hundreds of mourners, young and old.
Owen's Grandmother, Trisha Aldred, has told Greatest Hits Radio that the teenager's death has left "a great big hole in my heart".
"I want people out there to understand that by carrying knives, what they can do to a family.
"We will never, ever get over Owen ... some days I even think he's still here, but I know he's not. I would do anything (to bring him back).
"I just don't ever really want anyone else going through what we're going through.
"Losing a grandchild, at 18, this just can't keep going on," she said.
#KnivesCostLives
This week, our #KnivesCostLives investigation will continue to lift the lid on knife crime, and the devastation it can cause, in Swindon.
We will be hearing from people in the community who are trying to prevent stabbings, and asking whether Swindon's authorities are doing enough to tackle the issue.
Stay across Greatest Hits Radio Swindon's news bulletins, website and social media platforms for more coverage.
*We have defined serious knife crime as incidents which cause injury or death, where a blade has been possessed, threatened or used.
**We have defined non-serious crime as all other incidents where a blade has been possessed, threatened or used.