Knife Crime has returned to its highest level since before the pandemic, a report by the Ministry of Justice has found. 

The data found by the MoJ has shown that there were 20,202 knife or offensive weapon offences in the year ending September 2021. This is up from the previous year, which saw a high of 18,296 offences. 

Kent has been one of the worst affected areas on the south coast. Cities such as London, Manchester and Leeds show the fastest levels of growth in terms of offences. 

This comes after a number of shops in West Sussex were congratulated by police for challenging young people who tried to purchase knives from High Street Shops. This has been part of Operation Safety, which enforces shops to challenge young people who attempt to buy knives.

However, Francis Osei-Appiah, the CEO and founder of the kent – based anti – gang charity ‘Reform, Restore, Respect’ thinks that the biggest problem stems from ordering knives on the dark web.

“A lot of these young people know that the shops are checking for I. D’s”, Francis said. “A lot of them get these knives they shouldn’t have on them online. “

Mr Osei-Appiah, a former gang member served jail time in the 2000s. He has since founded ‘Reform, Restore, Respect’ which demonstrates the problem of gang lifestyle, and is now the Residential Manager at West Heath School in Sevenoaks.  The charity is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this week. 

Francis believes the way to tackle knife crime is to prevent it happening in the first place. This can be achieved by having charities such as his, teach children the problem with gang culture and knife crime. 

Norwich based rapper Creepzz (whose real name is Shane Harvey) agrees. Creepzz was incarcerated for possession of a knife when he was 16 years old. 

“Certain people get the right help they need and they pursue that dream they’ve got to do good for the community. I believe that does work” Creepzz said. 

While in prison, Creepzz was diagnosed with autism and paranoid schizophrenia. Since being released, he has tried to use his music to reach at risk young people, and turn them away from knife crime. He plans to expand his musical career by going to America in the summer.