UK knife crime epidemic spreads to home counties as startling figures show people more likely to be stabbed in Bedfordshire than Manchester
STARTLING figures have revealed people are now more likely to be stabbed in Bedfordshire than Manchester.
Experts believe Britain's knife crime epidemic has spread to the Home Counties because city gangs have expanded their territories.
Knife crime in London has soared by 20 percent over the last three years, according to analysis.
But stabbings in Hertfordshire, Hampshire and Warwickshire have surged by more than 100 per cent.
Incidents in Hertfordshire have increased 150 per cent from 229 incidents in 2014 to 573 in 2017. In Norfolk, attacks have increased 283 per cent in Norfolk.
Vince O'Brien, head of drugs operation at the National Crime Agency told the newspaper: "There is an increasing level of violence coming from city gangs establishing themselves in new drugs markets in rural areas.
"Counties which surround London are being affected."
A new Home Office report linked the increase in violence with "county lines" drug dealing.
City gangs have driven out local dealers with extreme violence, in a bid to sell drugs directly to users.
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This analysis comes days after Donald Trump likened London to a "war zone".
The US President described the situation in London as "knives, knives, knives" as he gave a steely defence of the Second Amendment.
He didn't specify which London hospital he was referring too but it has been speculated that he could be talking about St Bart's in the east of the city.
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