A new study from Cardiff University of data from 219 hospital emergency departments, minor injury units, and walk-in-centers across England and Wales has revealed that there was a significant decline in serious violence in 2023. The estimates suggest that approximately 141,804 people with injuries sustained in violence were treated in emergency departments in England and Wales – this is down 22,919 (14%) compared to the previous year. In more than 20 years of recording the data, researchers have only seen the level lower once before, in 2020, when violence dropped dramatically during the Covid lockdowns. However, the latest figures indicate that the long-term downward trend since 2001 has re-emerged.
The reduction in violent crime is driven by reductions among 18 to 30-year-olds, the work showed. “England and Wales are safer now than they were a year ago, much safer than two decades ago,” said lead author Prof Jonathan Shepherd. He described the reductions as “good news for the NHS and police, and for hard-pressed hospital emergency departments in particular”. Researchers think this reduction could be attributable to the effectiveness of violence prevention strategies by police and other bodies. This includes the police targeting of serious violence hotspots.
The sharpest fall, down by 25%, was among 18 to 30-year-olds – the group at greatest risk of serious violence. Researchers believe that the fact that growing numbers of young adults are staying at home with their parents, as shown in research by the Office of National Statistics, could also be a factor in this reduction of violence. It is worth noting that police data shows that all forces recorded an increase in knife crime in the year ending September 2023. However, today’s report and earlier studies by the NHS show fewer hospital admissions because of stabbings.
The Cardiff research also indicates that last year, serious violence peaked in May and was generally higher at weekends and on Mondays. Also, it was at its lowest in January and February. Despite increases in the two previous years, the overall trend is for a long-term decline in serious violence. This is undoubtedly excellent news for citizens of the UK, especially considering recent events around the world
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