Local authorities across Britain are facing a growing demand for the provision of stab vests from council staff and emergency service employees.

The news comes in a week in which two teenagers, Shakilus Townsend and Ben Kinsella, were stabbed to death in London and when two students were found dead with hundreds of stab wounds to their body.

The Guardian reports that over 20,000 sets of stabproof body armour vests, which have been recommended by the home office, have been sent to local government staff.

A metropolitan police homicide detective told the paper: "Once councils start resorting to this, it can only be interpreted as a shameful indictment of violence in Britain. Everybody must be asking: when are we going to start tackling this properly?"

The Independent on Sunday cites department of health reports as stating that 38 victims of stabbing attacks were treated in hospital every day last year.

In total 13,795 people underwent treatment for knife-related injuries, a 19 per cent increase on admissions five years ago, according to the paper.

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