Daily roundup 21 September: Youth violence, exams and privatisation

Serious youth violence is on the rise in London with half of all incidents involving knives, research has found. The News Shopper reports that the a report by the London Assembly's police and crime committee found that there were 6,290 victims of serious youth violence in 2015/16 - a 20 per cent increase on 2012/13.?


Young people in the UK are under so much pressure to excel in exams that they are sacrificing vital life skills, experiences, healthy relationships, and even their own happiness, according to research by the National Citizen Service. The Independent reports that 76 per cent of 15- to 17-year-olds said studying for good exam results is their top priority this year, and they will cut down on family time, friendships, hobbies and sleep to focus on this.


A campaign aiming to stop community health services for children being run by a private company has been backed by hundreds of people. The Argus reports a protest was held ahead of a Brighton and Hove City Council health and wellbeing board meeting yesterday where a petition with almost 1,000 signatures was handed in.?


Frontline police officers dealing with domestic abuse incidents are being trained to spot the signs of coercive or controlling behaviour. The BBC reports that research by the College of Policing suggests that officers currently focus attention on cases involving violence, while overlooking other risk factors such as threats and controlling behaviour. A pilot scheme has now been taken up by three unnamed police forces in England and Wales following the research.?


A 12-year-old accidentally died while playing a choking game called the "pass out challenge" three months after his school warned against it, an inquest heard. The Daily Mail reports that Karnel Haughton is the seventh British child to die in this manner since 2010.


Only one in eight young people in Scotland eats five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, a survey has found. The Scotsman reports that the average Scottish child eats just 2.7 portions of fruit and vegetables each day, with seven per cent not eating any greens at all.