Lyn Brown, Labour's shadow treasury minister who represents the West Ham constituency, where nine teenagers and young adults have lost their lives to violent crime since 2017, said youth violence is "fuelled by social media".
Her comments follow the death of drill rapper Siddique Kamara, 23, also known as Incognito, who was stabbed to death in Camberwell in south London in August. Met police commissioner Cressida Dick has previously called on social media platforms such as YouTube to remove videos that she said glamourised violence.
Speaking during a debate in parliament on the government's response to organised crime and young people's safety, Lyn Brown said drill music, characterised by dark and violent lyrics and gestures, often promotes serious criminality, making the grooming of children easier by offering a lucrative and exciting alternative to hard work.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
