The pandemic making teenagers “more vulnerable” has led to a disproportionate increase in the killing of young people by knives, a charity said.

The number of people killed with a knife in England and Wales in 2021/22 was the highest on record for 76 years, a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found.

Eastern Daily Press: Raymond James Quigley, who is known as James, (inset) and the scene in Ipswich where he was stabbed to death Raymond James Quigley, who is known as James, (inset) and the scene in Ipswich where he was stabbed to death (Image: Suffolk Police/Newsquest)

The increase was driven by an 18 per cent rise in the number of male victims, from 184 to 218, in the 12 months to March 2022, it said.

The largest volume increase was for teenage boys aged 16 to 17.

It comes as two teenagers have been charged with the fatal stabbing of Wymondham 18-year-old Raymond James Quigley in Ipswich town centre last month.

Eastern Daily Press: Joe Dix who was stabbed to death in Norwich in January 2022 Joe Dix who was stabbed to death in Norwich in January 2022 (Image: Submitted by family of Joe Dix)

Meanwhile three Norwich teenagers accused of stabbing to death Joe Dix, 18, in Mile Cross will stand trial later this year.

Patrick Green, chief executive of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust which was set up in 2008 following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ben in north London, cited the effects of the pandemic as a reason for knife crime rising faster amongst teenagers than any other age group.

Eastern Daily Press: Patrick Green, chief executive of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella TrustPatrick Green, chief executive of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust (Image: Ben Kinsella Trust)

Mr Green said: “As we emerged from Covid restrictions and those restrictions were lifted, we were seeing more evidence of young people made more vulnerable by Covid.”

He added: “Some feel less secure in their community spaces, more worried. We know that fear is a factor…in terms of carrying a knife. It’s one of the motivations. They feel safe carrying a knife and that alleviates the fear.”

Latest crime figures show offences in Norfolk involving possession of weapons rose by 50 per cent in the year to September 2022.

Norfolk police and crime commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie said figures were still below national levels but such a steep rise was of “great concern”.