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CPS effectively prosecutes knife crime says HMCPSI 

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A new report shows that CPS is prosecuting knife crime to a good standard, but improvements are required to increase public protection.  

 The HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) has today [31 March 2026] published a report following an inspection of the CPS’s approach to handling knife crime.  

The inspection found that overall, the CPS is committed to tackling knife crime and performs well in prosecuting knife offences, with prosecutors generally make the right charging decisions, particularly with simple possession offences.  

Inspectors found that early decision-making was strong, and that the CPS handles youth cases well, and sought orders to remove weapons from circulation, which contributes to the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. 

However, the inspection uncovered areas where improvement is needed to increase public protection.  

Aggravating features in cases, such as threats with knives or links to wider criminality, were not always consistently reflected in charge selection, and prosecutors did not always identify where a minimum mandatory sentence should be applied.  

In a small number of instances, lower‑level charges were selected where a more serious offence should have been charged, types of knives were on occasion not properly identified, and while service to victims was generally positive, inspectors identified inconsistencies in ensuring victims were informed of charge changes and their rights under the Victims’ Right to Review scheme.  

HMCPSI Deputy Chief Inspector Lisa Morris said:  

“Knife crime has risen sharply over the past decade, and its consequences are devastating for victims, families, and communities.  

“The CPS performs well in many areas, and we recognise the commitment of prosecutors working in this space. But our inspection found there are weaknesses that must be address. When mandatory minimum sentences are missed, when the type of weapon goes unidentified, and when knife charges are dropped without explanation, the criminal justice system fails victims and undermines public confidence. 

“I urge the CPS to act urgently on our recommendations.” 

St Giles Business Development Manager and SOS Project Founder, Junior Smart said: 

“Knife violence is not abstract to us — we work with young people who live with its trauma and consequences long after the headlines fade. This report highlights important work by prosecutors but also gaps that can undermine trust when key factors are missed or victims are not kept informed.  

“Preventing young people from turning to weapons in the first place is the most effective response, through early intervention and strong partnerships such as our work with the London Violence Reduction Unit and West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership.  

“We welcome the recommendations and urge swift action while continuing efforts to prevent violence at its roots.” 

To improve performance, HMCPSI made two recommendations in the inspection report: 

  • By April 2027, the CPS to be able to demonstrate a significant improvement in their compliance with identification of minimum mandatory sentence knife crime cases in pre- and post-charge reviews.  
  • By June 2026, the CPS to review, refine and re-publish Knife and Other Weapons Offences guidance to support and highlight the need to identify mandatory minimum sentence cases.