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Knife crime has risen by 16% in one year in England and Wales, according to shocking new figures recorded by police.

The number of offences involving a "knife or sharp instrument" in the year to March 2018 jumped to 40,147, official figures show.

And the number of robberies soared 30% to 77,103, the figures show.

There was also a 12% rise in police-recorded homicides to 701, excluding the London and Manchester terror attacks. And there was a 2% rise in police-recorded gun crime to 6,492 cases.

Meanwhile police recorded 31% more rapes (53,977) and 21% more other sexual offences (96,755) - driven partly by a rise in sex offences against children.

It comes after a surge in stabbings and shootings prompted a national outcry and calls for firmer action and funding from the government.

Yesterday "joyful and beautiful" Katrina Makunova, 17, was named as the latest victim of the violent crime spree in London. She was fatally knifed in Camberwell a week ago today.

(Image: Metropolitan Police)

Home Secretary Sajid Javid admitted there had been a "significant rise" when he took office - but has clashed with London mayor Sadiq Khan about whether more officers are the answer.

Today's figures reflect 'police-recorded crime'.

This is a separate measure to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, and the government says the Crime Survey is more reliable.

The Crime Survey did not record a change in overall violent offences in the year to March 2018, the Office for National Statistics said.

But the ONS also said the rises in "higher-harm" violent crimes "are thought to reflect genuine changes", not just better recording by police. It said the rise in robberies may also reflect a "real change in these crimes".

(Image: MEN MEDIA)

Overall, today's Crime Survey suggests there has been a 4% rise in all crime excluding fraud and computer misuse, which fell sharply.

ONS analyst Caroline Youell said the figures showed a "fairly stable picture" and it is "too early to say if this is a change to the long-term declining trend."

She added: "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."

(Image: PA)

The stats show car thefts rose on both measures - police-recorded vehicle offences rose 12% while Crime Survey vehicle-related theft rose 17%.

Police recorded a 6% jump in burglaries while the Crime Survey recorded an 8% overall rise in theft.

Police also recorded a huge 36% jump in public order offences, which the ONS said may indicate a "real rise".

However, offences involving criminal damage to a vehicle fell by 13%, according to the Crime Survey.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: “Today we see what an appalling and traumatic impact Theresa May’s decisions have had on our society.

“This is a shameful day for the Prime Minister. The next Labour government will bring back 10,000 police officers to tackle rising crime.”