The number of killings and knife offences in England and Wales have surged in the last year, official crime figures reveal today.

The Office for National Statistics have recorded the number of homicides has increased by 12 per cent, and crimes with a knife have risen by 16 per cent.

The number of homicides now stand at their highest level since 2008, amid a violent crime wave that is blighting London and other cities.

The number of killings is up from 627 last year to 701. Police have also registered 40,147 crimes involving a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March.

In the 12 months to March, forces in England and Wales logged a total of 5.5 million offences, a rise of a tenth (11%) compared with the previous year.

Knife crime figures show a 16 per cent increase in knife crimes on last year, and this graph shows an upward trend since 2014

Gun crime has also increased, but less so than knife-related crime - rising by two per cent to 6,492 in the reported period.

Rising crime in England and Wales Homicides: 12 per cent rise with 701 offences Knife crime: 16 per cent rise with 40,147 offences Gun crime: 2 per cent rise with 6492 offences Burglary: 6 per cent rise with 437,537 offences Robbery: 30 per cent rise with 77,103 offences Advertisement

It came as other Home Home Office data also released today revealed only nine per cent of crimes end with suspects being charged or summonsed.

In the 12 months to March, 443,000 crimes resulted in a charge or summons out of 4.6 million offences - the lowest detection rate since 2015.

Data also shows police closed nearly half (48%) of all cases because no suspect could be identified.

In April it emerged that the streets of London are now more deadly than New York, with the capital recording a higher murder rate for the first time in modern history in February.

The number of robberies recorded by the police also increased by 30 per cent and there was a 17 per cent rise in thefts from vehicles.

A graph showing the number of killings - classed as homicides in the report - since 2003, which excludes victims of terror attacks and the Hillsborough disaster

A graph showing the number of burglary, robbery and vehicle offences since March 2003, which show a general downward trend, but a rise on last year

A graph showing the likelihood of being a victim of crime in England and Wales, using figures from the Crime Survey of England and Wales. The bottom statistic encompasses all types, and reveals that approximately 20% of adults experienced crime last year

Computer crime saw a 31 per cent drop largely due to a decrease in viruses.

However official statisticians said overall crime levels are now 'stabilising' after decades of reductions.

No one is charged for nine out of ten crimes Figures released from the Home Office today revealed that just nine per cent of crimes end with suspects being charged or summonsed. In the 12 months to March, 443,000 crimes resulted in a charge out of 4.6 million offences - the lowest detection rate since 2015. Statistics also show police closed nearly half (48 per cent) of all cases because no suspect could be identified. The crime outcomes is published at the same time as the quarterly crime figures Advertisement

In the 12 months to March, forces in England and Wales logged a total of 5.5million offences in total, a rise of a tenth compared with the previous year.

Separate statistics released by the Home Office show the number of police officers fell to 122,404 officers as of March 31, from 123,142 a year ago.

It is the lowest number of police officers since records began in 1996.

Publishing the data, the Office for National Statistics said: 'Over recent decades, we've seen a fall in overall levels of crime, a trend that now looks to be stabilising.'

Alex Mayes, policy and public affairs adviser for charity Victim Support, said: 'It's truly shocking to see these rises in homicides and violent crime such as knife crime.

'While overall crime levels are generally stable, these increases in some high harm crimes are concerning.

'Too many lives are being shattered by these violent crimes.'

Caroline Youell, of the ONS, said most people do not experience crime.

She said: 'Today's figures show a fairly stable picture in England and Wales for most crime types.

'It is too early to say if this is a change to the long-term declining trend.

'There have been increases in some lower-volume 'high-harm' offences such as homicide and knife crime, consistent with rises over the past three years.

'However, the latest rise in gun crime is much smaller than previously seen.

'We have also seen continued increases in some theft offences such as vehicle-related theft and burglary, while computer viruses have fallen.'

The crimewave blighting the capital: Londoners suffer nearly HALF of all robberies

Metropolitan Police detectives have launched at least 82 homicide investigations this year as a crimewave blight the capital.

It recorded a higher murder rate that New York for the first time in its history in February, with 15 people killed in London during the month, compared to 14 in the US city.

Today a woman in her 20s was pronounced dead in Hanwell, West London and a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The crime wave is being fueled by tit for tat gang attacks. Just some of the feuding clans that have brought violence to the streets of London.

The ONS figures released today show the number of robberies in London is 'disproportionately high.'

The Metropolitan Police have now launched 82 homicide investigation in London so far this year. This map shows the date and location of the killings

The crime wave is being fueled by tit for tat gang attacks. Just some of the feuding clans that have brought violence to the streets of London

It accounted for 42 per cent of all robberies in England and Wales, with 32,751 taking place over the year.

A quarter of the robberies in London had been committed using a knife.

There were 98 knife killings in the capital over the year - two thirds of all homicides, and there were 14,721 knife offences - the highest since 2011.