Preinjury, injury and postinjury factors leading to death in children and young people who were victims of knife crime in England between 2019 and 2024: a review of the National Child Mortality Database [BMJ]

Knife-related deaths in children present a serious public health challenge. This study, based on unique NCMD data, reports the demographics and preinjury, injury and postinjury factors associated with death in children and young people, under the age of 18 years, who died of knife wounds in England between 2019 and 2024.

It finds that:

• Deaths among children and young people secondary to knife wounds occurred in all regions of England.
• Many children are exposed to adverse childhood experiences before death and known to statutory services.
• The identification of interventions to decrease the risk to children from knife violence remains a priority.