To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the number of crimes in which a knife or a bladed instrument was used in each of the last five years, broken down by constituency.

The Department of Justice does not hold information on reported crimes in which a knife or a bladed instrument was used. The recording of information in relation to offences reported to police is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. You may, therefore, wish to direct any query relating to the issues raised in the question to the PSNI.

However, the Department does hold information on the number of convictions at courts. While convictions datasets do not contain detail on where a knife or bladed instrument was used in the commission of an offence, or on the location in which an offence took place, there are two offences which relate to the possession of a knife or bladed instrument in a school or in a public place. Information, at Northern Ireland level, on the number of convictions for these two offences, in the five-year period up to the end of 2023, the most recent year for which statistics are available, has been provided.

Convictions at courts for offences relating to the possession of a knife of a bladed instrument, 2019 – 2023

Notes:

1. Figures relate to initial disposal at courts. Appeals are not included.

2. Figures relate to cases dealt with at courts where there was a conviction for at least one of the offences specified.

3. Figures relate to cases prosecuted by PPS on behalf of PSNI, Harbour Police, Airport Constabulary, NCA or PBNI.

4. Figures relate to cases dealt with at Crown Court and magistrates' courts.

5. Figures relate to the offences of ‘possessing an article with a blade or point on school premises’ and ‘possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place, prosecuted under the Criminal Justice Act 1988.