The staggering number of stabbings in 2019

Knife crime has sadly cemented itself in to Coventry's crime foundations with the equivalent of a stabbing every single week at the start of 2019.

In the first 18 weeks of the year, the city's police force has investigated 18 stabbings - and that's just the ones we know about.

Among those was the fatal stabbing of Patrick Hill who died in hospital three days after being found with stab wounds at Albany House in Earlsdon back in February.

And that total of 18 stabbings in the first 18 weeks is a huge rise on the same period in 2018, which saw just eight incidents.

Our interactive table below shows a comparison between stabbings in 2018 and 2019 in Coventry:

The Commander of Coventry Police previously said that he and his officers are doing "absolutely everything in our powers" to tackle serious and violent crime in the city.

When asked if people should be worried, Chief Superintendent Mike O'Hara said: "They should understandably be concerned. I'm worried. I'm the Commander and I worry about the safety of all of the people in Coventry.

"But I wouldn't say they need to be alarmed though. I'd want them to feel reassured, almost a promise to them that we are doing absolutely everything in our powers to tactically and operationally.

"We are out on the streets doing everything we can with all of our resources."

We've set out a timeline of all the stabbings in the first 18 weeks of 2019 - and have done just the same for 2018 below that.

Time Line

Stabbings in Coventry - Jan to May 2019

New Year's Day
A man was stabbed in the torso in Canley on January 1. Although three people were arrested by police, no charges have been made and enquiries continue.
Princess Street stabbing

Police are still hunting for whoever attacked a 16-year-old boy and left him with multiple injuries in Foleshill on January 3.

A video allegedly showing the attack was circulated on social media at the time.
City centre attack

Emergency services were called to Trinity Street on February 2 and found a 15-year-old with knife injuries to his leg and lower torso.

No arrests have been made.
Gallagher Retail Park
Another teenager fell victim to a stabbing in the city on February 7.

A 17-year-old was taken to hospital after an assault on the retail outlet's car park.
Fatal stabbing

Patrick Hill died in hospital three days after being found with stab wounds at Albany House, in Earldson, on February 10.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with Mr Hill's murder.
Stabbed in mugging

On the evening of February 23 a robbery victim was stabbed multiple times.

The teenage boy suffered stab wounds to the chest, arm and back, and had his bag stolen. Police are still hunting for those responsible.
Cheylesmore
A 42-year-old man was taken to hospital with a stab wound to his shoulder following an incident at a wine shop.

The stabbing happened in Daventry Road on March 1 and police say no arrests have been made.
Girl 'stabbed with scissors'

A 14-year-old girl "is believed to have been stabbed by a pair of scissors" in Attoxhall Road on March 6.

Police arrested a 16-year-old girl on suspicion of wounding - she was bailed while enquiries continue.
Student stabbed

A student suffered wounds to his head and arms as robbers armed with a machete tried to steal his Rolex.

Bilal Boulaleh, 20, was jailed for six years for his part in the robbery at Godiva Place student flats on March 7. Police are still hunting for a second man.
Earlsdon incident
No arrests have been made after a man was stabbed in Osborne Road, Earlsdon, on March 8.

The injured man was found at a nearby medical centre by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
Alleged scissor attack
Two people are due to stand trial after a man was allegedly stabbed with a pair of scissors in the city centre.

The incident happened on March 13 and a man and a woman have been charged with wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.
Restaurant stabbing

An argument in a Turkish restaurant led to a man being stabbed multiple times on evening of April 7.

The 31-year-old victim was stabbed in the chest and leg.

West Midlands Police say no arrests have been made and the investigation continues.
Attempted carjacking
A man was jumped by would-be carjackers and suffered stab wounds to his arm, shoulder and waist.

The attack happened in Norman Place Road on April 7 and 16-year-old boy was arrested in relation to the incident has been released pending further investigation.
Wyken Croft Nature Park
Police are still investigating a stabbing at the nature reserve on April 17 which left an 18-year-old with "multiple serious injuries".
Wood End

A man was taken to hospital following a stabbing in Milverton Road.

The 23-year-old victim was found with stab wounds to his leg at around 10.45pm on April 21.
Playground attack

A play area in Foleshill was the scene of a knife attack on April 27.

Police said the victim was a 32-year-old man who sustained injuries to his lip and hand.
Knocked off bike and stabbed

A man was stabbed after being knocked off his bike by a car.

The incident happened on Armscott Road, in Wyken, on April 30 and sustained injuries to his chest and legs.

No arrests have been made.
Attempted murder charge

A factory worker is accused of trying to kill a woman in Coventry after she was found with stab wounds to her neck and chest.

She was found in the early hours of May 7 after knocking on a number of doors to summon help.
Boy chased and stabbed
Two men chased a 17-year-old along Far Gosford Street in the early hours of May 11 before he was punched and stabbed.

Time Line

Stabbings in Coventry - Jan to May 2018

Bath Street

Two men were stabbed - one in the back and one in the hand - in Hillfields on January 29, 2018.

Police said two men were arrested and bailed as part of the investigation.
Far Gosford Street stabbing #1
No arrests have been made in connection with a stabbing that saw a 41-year-old man taken to hospital on February 11, 2018.
Far Gosford Street stabbing #2

Just four days later a man suffered internal bleeding during an attack in the same street on February 15, 2018.

Police released CCTV images of a man they want to trace, but so far no arrests have been made
City centre incident
A 16-year-old boy arrested after a man was stabbed in Trinity Street was released with no further action to be taken.

The incident saw a 19-year-old man was taken to hospital with a stab wound to his arm on February 23, 2018.
Oxendon Way
Three people are set to stand trial accused of wounding after an incident in Oxendon Way, Ernesford Grange, on March 25, 2018.

Police said a 29-year-old was found in the early hours with serious injuries.
Church stabbing

A woman was stabbed as she left a late-night service at St Margaret's Church in Stoke.

Following the attack on April 8, 2018, a man was arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Woman stabbed outside club

Police investigated an attack outside Club M on April 15, 2018, that saw a woman stabbed in the chest.

However, no arrests have been made in connection with the assault.
Machete attack
A man was stabbed - reportedly with a machete - after leaving Jumpin' Jaks at Coventry's Skydome on April 28, 2018.

The victim was taken to hospital, but no arrests have been made.