Most knife crime takes place in homes- report

A new report from An Garda Síochána shows the majority of knife crime takes place in the home, and not in the street or open spaces.

There was a 40 per cent reduction in robbery with a knife in retail spaces over the five-year period 2020 to 2024 compared to 2015-2019.

There was also a 35 per cent reduction in robbery with a knife in street / open spaces between 2020 and 2024 compared to 2015-2019.

However, there was a 28 per cent increase in knives seized by gardaí in the same period compared to the five years previous.

There was a 14 per cent increase in prosecutions for possession of a knife, with almost 20,000 prosecutions in the last 10 years.

The last decade saw nearly 40 prosecutions every week.

The Dublin Region accounts for generally 40 to 50 per cent of knife seizures, with Dublin North Central, South Central, North, West, generally have the highest levels of knife seizures.

There was less than one murder with a knife on average per month over 10-year period.

The majority of Murder / manslaughter incidents with a knife each year occurred in residential locations.

Men account for 87 per cent of offenders.

The 18-34 age group account for 50 per cent of offenders, with people in the 35-49 age group counting for 36 per cent.

Teenagers counted for seven per cent of knife murders.

In the last 10 years, 1,784 people were admitted to hospital following an injury from knife crime, an average of 15 per month.

2023 had highest number of persons admitted, with 213.

87 per cent of hospital admissions were male, with six per cent under the age 18.