KNIFE crime has risen across Oxfordshire in the past year.

Police last night admitted there was more work to be done educating teenagers after figures revealed knives were used in 276 crimes in the county between March 2008 and April 2009, compared to 248 the same period a year before – an 11 per cent rise.

Oxford fared the worst, with a 24 per cent increase from 122 knife crimes to 151 in the past year.

Increases were also recorded in South Oxfordshire, up nine per cent from 32 to 35 crimes, and the Vale of White Horse, which witnessed a 22 per cent increase from 18 to 22 crimes.

Drops in knife crime occurred in Cherwell, down from 57 to 52 crimes, and West Oxfordshire, which suffered 16 incidents compared to 19 a year before.

Robin Gardner, tackling knife crime coordinator for the Thames Valley, said: “We are working hard to try and keep knife crime low but we are always subject to fluctuations in crime trends.”