KNIFE crime among teenagers in Essex has plummetted by almost two thirds in the last year, according to new Home Office figures.

The results came after Essex Police became one of ten forces in England and Wales to be chosen by the Government, in June 2008, to join the Tackling Knives Action Programme.

The initative aims to reduce the carrying of knives, related homicides and serious stabbings among those aged between 13 and 19.

Its launch has seen the number of knife crimes by under-19s more than halved to 71 in the last year. This is down from 162 the previous year.

However, there were six murders during this period where the victim was stabbed to death, compared with three the previous year.

In total, across Essex there were 401 violent offences involving knives, such as stabbing and robbery, committed between April 2008 and March 2009.

This is a significant drop on the 634 crimes committed by knife-wielding thugs in the same period the previous year.

Superintendent Ewen Wilson, head of territorial policing at Essex Police, said: “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure knife crime in Essex remains low.

“Those responsible for committing such offences in Essex will be dealt with robustly, with the full weight of the criminal justice system.”

The figures show Essex Police have recorded almost twice as many offences of possession of an offensive weapon in a year, up from 544 to 928.

Essex Police have been awarded a further £100,000 Government grant to tackle knife crime over the coming year.