Increase in violence-related injury across England and Wales
There has been a rise in the number of people treated for violence-related injuries in emergency departments in England and Wales, new data from Cardiff University shows.
In their 25th annual National Violence Surveillance Network report, the Cardiff team reveal that in 2024 an estimated 145,271 people attended emergency departments for treatment of injuries sustained in violence, a rise of 3,466 or 2.4% compared to 2023.
In the last quarter of a century, however, there has been a substantial and steady decrease in violence which results in emergency hospital treatment, with data gathered by the researchers showing that 162,727 (53%) fewer people were treated in emergency departments in 2024 than in 2010, and 268,727 (65%) fewer than in 2001.
Professor Jonathan Shepherd, a report author, said, "This decline is mainly explained by long-term decreases in injury caused by violence of those aged 18 to 30. This may reflect decreasing alcohol consumption, fewer nights out, changing priorities and lower disposable income in this age group. Overall, this marked decrease in violence is a message that needs to be much better known, but this long-term decrease is no reason for any complacency.
As exemplified in our 2024 report, decreases in violence can stall and even reverse. From 2000, our annual reports have tracked trends in violence leading to emergency hospital treatment across England and Wales. This long-term perspective demonstrates progressively greater safety, especially of those most at risk, young adults."
Males were twice as likely as females to be treated for violence-related injury with the highest risk experienced by those aged 18 to 30 years.
"The 2.4% increase in violence in 2024 largely reflects overall increases in violence-related injury in males, especially those aged 18 to 30 and 31 to 50," added Professor Shepherd.
2024 data also show that violence-related emergency department attendance of children aged 0 to 10 decreased 57%, from an estimated 4,229 in 2023 to 1,797 in 2024. This follows a post-COVID peak in 2023, and the COVID years when numbers dipped.
The team also found that violence-related attendance at emergency departments peaked on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. The lowest monthly violence-related visits occurred in January (10,996 cases) and December 2024 (10,971 cases). Since 2014, violence-related injury became steadily more concentrated in the period from late spring to mid-summer—with rates of violence at their highest in May in both 2023 and 2024.
Statistically significant findings for 2024 show that violence-related emergency department attendance in England and Wales:
- Increased 4% among males (up 4,029 cases).
- Decreased 1% among females (down 563 cases)
- Decreased 7% among those aged 11 to 17 years (down 1,313 cases).
- Increased 4% among those aged 18 to 30 years (up 1,887 cases).
- Increased 11% among those aged 31 to 50 years (up 5,796 cases).
- Decreased 2% among those aged over 50 (down 473 cases).
- Decreased 57% among those aged 0 to 10 years (down 2,432 cases).
Provided by Cardiff University