Summary

  • Council defends using hotel for people in need

  • Big rise in knife crime in Lincolnshire

  • 'Unprovoked' attack on teens at Grantham store

  • Investigation into major fire in Skegness

  • Hundreds of cannabis plants seized in Grimsby raid

  • Latest updates on Monday 7 October 2019

Live Reporting

Lynsey Bradford

  1. Big rise in knife crime in Lincolnshire

    Serious knife crime in Lincolnshire has increased by 75% over the past five years, BBC analysis of police figures suggests.

    KnifeGetty Images

    Under Freedom of Information Law, the BBC asked all 43 regional police forces in England and Wales for details of serious knife crime in their area.

    Serious knife crime is defined as any assault, robbery, threat to kill, murder, attempted murder or sexual offence involving a knife or sharp instrument.

    Despite the rise in Lincolnshire, the statistics also show the percentage of people being charged in the county is falling.

    Last year, 16% of knife crime offences led to charges, compared to 35% in 2014.

    All crimes involving knives are thoroughly investigated, according to Lincolnshire Police.

    The figures don't include any charges for murders, and sometimes young people are given cautions or rehabilitation to avoid unnecessarily criminalising them, the force adds.