CYP Now - Make youth clubs key to violence response

In recent weeks, knife crime involving young people has been in the headlines frequently, including the conviction and jailing of the teenager responsible for killing three young children in Southport in a frenzied attack last July. As shocking as these cases are, it is important to remember they are rare.

Derren Hayes, editor, Children & Young People Now derren.hayes@markallengroup.com

Jacqui Belfield-Smith, who represents youth off ending services in England, highlights that the number of children entering the criminal justice system and serving custodial terms fell 90% and 85% respectively from 2009 to 2023 (see Interview).

However, when such incidents do occur, it's the extreme nature of them – often involving weapons and child victims – that erodes public confidence and trust in the system to tackle it, explains Belfield-Smith.

Following the Southport case sentencing, the government pledged new measures to prevent sales of knives to under-18s (see News). While welcome, it will not be enough to prevent further incidents of youth violence. We need a fresh approach that tackles the drivers of violence and puts provision in place to support young people.

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