KNIFE crime in York and North Yorkshire is more than three times higher than was made out in Government statistics, The Press can reveal today.

The British Crime Survey (BCS) published earlier this year, reported there were 66 crimes involving a knife in North Yorkshire Police’s area in 2007/08 – the third lowest total of any force in the country. But investigations have now revealed the true figure was actually 214.

Police today said only certain offences were reported to the Home Office for inclusion in the BCS.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police (NYP) said: “We are only required to report to the Home Office the following offences where a knife was used: murder; attempted murder; threats to kill; manslaughter; infanticide; wounding or carrying out an act endangering life; inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent; actual bodily harm and other injury; sexual assault; rape; and robbery.”

That means nearly 150 other knife crimes in York and North Yorkshire went unreported by the Home Office.

Anne McIntosh, Conservative MP for the Vale of York, said: “I do not think that these figures should be massaged like that.”

She said a Tory governm,ent would make it an offence to carry a knife, adding: “Only by taking tough measures like that can we root this out.”

Ms McIntosh said the Government had “failed” the public on knife crime, and said: “Across the whole of North Yorkshire it’s a staggering number of knife crimes. It’s very alarming for children and for their parents.”

York councillor James Alexander, who filed a Freedom of Information request that led to the figures being published, said the discrepancy was “concerning” but said York remained one of the safest cities in the country.

He called for more “crime mapping” so residents could see accurate local crime figures on the internet.

The police spokesman said: “Figures for knife crime across North Yorkshire and the city of York are still some of the lowest across the country and for the year 2007/08, North Yorkshire Police had the highest sanctioned detection rate for violent offences against the person.

“However, we will not be complacent and with the introduction of Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the support of our partners we will do everything in our power to ensure that North Yorkshire and the city of York remain among the safest areas to live in England and Wales.”


What does and what does not count in the British Crime Survey?

There have been three high-profile knife incidents in York in recent weeks, but only one will be officially counted as a knife crime in next year’s British Crime Survey (BCS).

On July 26, Museum Gardens was evacuated following reports of a youngster waving a knife around.

But a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the incident would not count towards the BCS knife crime figures, as the recorded offence was “having an article with a blade or point in a public place” – which is not one of those logged in the BCS.

On August 3, there was a fight involving men in Martin’s Court off Leeman Road, York.

One was waving a knife. Police arrived and shot him with a Taser gun. Again, this will not count towards the BCS figures as it too was classed as an offence of “having an article with a blade or point in a public place”.

On August 13, a woman was robbed by a man with a knife, behind Westgate Apartments, near the River Ouse.

The man put a knife to the victim’s throat, took her purse, and kicked her about the head.

This will count towards the BCS knife-crime figure, as it was classed as a robbery: assault with intention to rob – and that is one of those counted as serious violent crime in the BCS.