Young people lead research into impact of knife images on social media
Isobel Warner
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
The impact of social media images of knives on young Londoners will be examined in new research conducted by a group of young people.
Young People’s Action Group is working with London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to examine the perception of knife carrying in London, and young people’s response to knife imagery, working specifically with Londoners aged between 16 and 25.
The move comes as part of a debate over police forces posting pictures of seized weapons on social media amid concerns that it furthers, rather than lessens, fear amongst young people.
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The Young People’s Action Group has also expressed concern that the posts containing images of knives are used by young people to learn what weapons are being carried in specific areas of London. This can lead to young people carrying more dangerous weapons and knives to protect themselves, they say.
Listen to Jade from our Young People's Action Group speak about why it's important to commission London-specific research into the impact of knife imagery on young people.
— London's Violence Reduction Unit (@LDN_VRU) January 10, 2022
Read more here: https://t.co/b4hO7hIKzW pic.twitter.com/kRWUOswChr
The research, led by University College London, aims to investigate the effects that images of knives have on young people’s perceptions of safety in London, the level of knife carrying and the fears and attitudes of young people in the capital.
This will provide specific London-based data to further research commissioned by the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and the South Yorkshire and Thames Valley Violence Reduction Units. Both police forces in these areas no longer publish images of knives on their social media accounts, out of fear they create more panic and worry surrounding knife crime.
“The Young People’s Action Group wants to investigate the impact of police posting images of large knives recovered in our communities,” said Tyrell David-Douglin, a member of the VRU’s action group.
“What we have heard from other empowered young women and men is that posting images of knives on social media platforms creates a sense of fear – there are better ways to achieve the goal of removing dangerous weapons and reducing violence.”
Lib Peck, director of London’s VRU added: “We’ve listened to the views and opinions of our Young People’s Action Group […] and they have made it clear that posting images of knives seized by the police often heightens the sense of fear in our communities and could lead to young people choosing to carry a knife for their own protection.”
A statement from London’s Metropolitan Police said: “We welcome the ongoing debate around the sharing of images of knives by police on social media. Whilst some believe it is necessary to show them, others feel it may encourage some to carry knives.
“We believe that, used appropriately, images of knives and similar weapons highlight the seriousness of the challenge and how we are tackling it."