Lancashire Commissioner backs national push to halve knife crime ahead of Sceptre week of action

The government’s proposals set out a long-term ambition to cut knife crime by 50% over the next decade, with a focus on strengthening Violence Reduction Networks, investing in early intervention, and breaking cycles of repeat offending.

Next week local partners will come together to raise awareness, remove weapons from circulation, and support young people to make positive choices.

This Sceptre week is running concurrently with the Ben Kinsella Trust’s Knife Crime Awareness Week and follows the trust’s theme of ‘Change can happen’, focusing on positive work and action to tackle knife crime.

In Lancashire, this approach is already delivering. The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), overseen by Commissioner Grunshaw, continues to lead targeted early intervention and prevention work to tackle serious violence.

The LVRN Annual Report 2025 highlights significant progress across the county, including the lowest number of homicides in ten years. For the second consecutive year, there were no homicide victims under the age of 25, alongside a 15% reduction in knife crime and a 31% fall in hospital admissions for injuries caused by sharp objects.

The report also shows strong results from the LVRN Champions mentoring programme, which supported 481 young people, with 81% demonstrating positive outcomes in reducing reoffending.

This work is being backed by more than £600,000 secured from the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund, enabling Lancashire Police to intensify action in areas affected most by knife crime. The funding is supporting a highly targeted, intelligence-led partnership approach, focusing resources where they are needed most, disrupting offending, protecting vulnerable individuals, and preventing violence before it happens.

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said:
“Knife crime is preventable, and I strongly support these ambitious national plans to drive it down further.

“Here in Lancashire, we’re already showing what works –  early intervention, strong partnerships, and a relentless focus on prevention. The results speak for themselves, with significant reductions in serious violence and fewer young people becoming victims.

“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to back the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network to strengthen collaboration, protect vulnerable communities, and build on this progress.”

Read the Government’s Knife Crime Action Plan here.