By Tehreem Zahra
Knife crime has become one of the biggest concerns in the UK, with its rise casting a shadow over communities across the country. What’s even more alarming is the increasing involvement of young people in these violent acts.
Instead of focusing on education, building bright futures, and contributing to society, many young offenders are now spending years behind bars, caught up in the devastating cycle of youth violence.
Knife crime in England and Wales increased by 75% between 2013 and 2022, statistics from the Fighting Knife Crime campaign say. According to Knife Crimes England and Wales, nearly 18,500 cautions and convictions for possession of a knife or offensive weapon were issued, with 17.3% of cases involving juveniles (aged 10 to 17).
Rise in knife crime raises concerns
The alarming rise in the number of juveniles involved in knife crime raises serious concerns and raises many questions about the causes of this rising issue.
Many youngsters from challenging backgrounds face a lack of opportunity, leading them to seek power and protection in dangerous ways. Mental health is another factor that is often left unaddressed, leading to feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
Additionally, involvement in drugs and the harsh reality of school exclusion further make young people involved in many crimes and violence, making it harder for them to break free and build a better future.
Video games, social media, and the internet are the biggest issues when it comes to knife crime, as many young people go on to believe that committing a crime is just a game, said Ram Singh, a 40-year-old father of three who advocates banning violent gaming.
He adds that the relatively open access to knives nowadays, including supermarket implements, makes it easy for young people to put them in their pockets and leave. According to Singh, children should prioritize their education, calling it “the most important thing”.
Interview with Ram Singh. Video by Tehreem Zahra
The January 7th incident in Woolwich, involving a fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a bus in southeast London, highlights the growing threat of youth violence. Two teenagers – a 15-year-old from Woolwich and a 16-year-old from Plumstead—have both been charged with murder, underscoring the seriousness of the crime.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that youth violence is not only devastating for the victim’s family, but also for the offenders’ families, who are left grappling with the loss of their child’s future as they face the harsh reality of seeing them behind bars.
Akshay Betham, a 27-year-old from India, believes that more “strict” measures should be implemented to prevent young people from engaging in this kind of activity. Betham believes that parents should keep an eye on their children and educate them on “what is good and bad from a young age”.
He pointed out that it is the authorities’ responsibility to “deal with the issues as soon as possible” and “save more young people from ruining their future.”
London Metropolitan Police Detective Constable Shaun Pascal has expressed concern about young kids being exposed to video games and applications like TikTok too early.
Speaking to a panel on knife crime at London Metropolitan University, he said, “The horse has bolted, so there is no turning it around now,” adding that we now have to deal with the after-effects of that.
Shaun Pascal at the panel. Photo: Wendy Sloane
Prevention is the best solution
Knife crime is an issue that nobody should ignore, and there are numerous ways to prevent teenagers from becoming involved in such crimes.
These include participation in social mobility and community-led youth programmes, implementing more community-focused policies, educating teenagers about the consequences of such crimes to raise awareness, establishing tough legislation and sentencing, and investing in young people and the resources that assist them.
The reality of this growing trend raises difficult questions about what needs to change to protect both the youth and the wider community from the consequences of this escalating crisis.
Stefan Brown, CEO of the Stop Our Kids Being Killed On Our Streets campaign, called knife crime a “disease” and said that “the only way to deal with it is all to be together” to tackle knife crimes. According to him, “education is very important from day one,” and we need to start with educating children from a young age.
Stefan Brown (right) speaking to the panel. Photo: Tehreem Zahra
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