Knife crime reached a record level last year in England and Wales – but offences were slightly down in Dorset, figures reveal.

Across the county, police recorded 40,829 offences involving knives or sharp objects in 2018, an increase of six per cent in a year and the largest total since comparable data began in 2011.

The number of homicides last year stood at 732, the highest in any calendar year since 2007 when it hit 765.

The data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) came after a spate of knife crimes involving young people triggered a political row over cuts to police funding.

One of the latest killings was that of an 18-year-old man stabbed to death in the Harborne area of Birmingham on Wednesday evening.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee, said the “disturbing increase” in violent crime comes as arrests continue to fall.

The ONS release showed an increase in knife offences in 31 of the 43 police forces across the two nations.

Dorset was one of the areas where knife offences were down.

Dorset Police recorded 240 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2018 which is down one per cent on the 2017 figure of 242.

This year, the force ran week-long knife amnesty which resulted in more than 200 knives and bladed items being handed in.

Speaking at the time, Superintendent Jared Parkin said: “People have taken the time and trouble to hand in potentially dangerous items which have now been destroyed and are out of circulation. As a preventive measure, coupled with increasingly stringent national legislation on the sale of knives, we feel this is proportionate and helpful in maintaining a much lower level of knife related incidents than in other areas of the country.

“Having said that we are not complacent and would urge anyone who has concerns that a relative of friend may be carrying a knife with no good reason to contact the police. You can do that anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0300 123 2040 if you prefer.”