50% increase in serious knife assaults over past six years

THERE has been a 50% jump in serious assaults involving knives over the past six years, according to new crime figures.

The number of knife murders doubled between 2003 and 2008, but the figure fell dramatically in 2008, from a peak of 32 in 2007.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show there has been a rise in violent crime involving knives between 2003 and 2008.