Apr 112 min read

Serious Youth Violence

Gang definition:

Gang comprises of individuals aged 13-25 years old who take part in many forms of criminal activity. They engage in violence against other gangs. They have identifiable markers such as territory, name or clothing.

What is Serious Youth Violence?

Any offence of most serious violence or weapon enabled crimes. The victim is aged 1-19 acting in criminal offences such as murder, manslaughter, rape, wounding with intent.

Young people associated with gangs are highly vulnerable. Sexual violence amongst peers is a common place to hold power and control over others. They are at high risk of sexual exploitation and violence.

County Lines:

People are exposed to in the context of gang involvement. Inner-city criminal gangs exploiting young people to travel to smaller locations to sell drugs.

Organised sexual exploitation and trafficking:

Young people can be passed through networks over geographical locations. They may be forced or coerced into sexual activity with multiple men. Young people may recruit others into the network. Buying and selling of young people by offenders.

National Response:

The Home Office produced a Serious Violence Strategy in 2018 to set out the government response to serious violence and recent increase in knife crime, gun crime and homicides.

The Youth Justice Board in February 2020 set out their approach to Serious Youth Violence by addressing it. The SYV Pathfinder model focuses on attention and resources in specfic areas where crimes is most prevalent.

Children’s commissioner in February 2019 published a report ‘Keeping kids safe’ which provided depth to look at children nationally. Every Youth Justice Service in England was asked to produce data to inform the findings. Overall, it was stated that:

95% more likely to have social, emotional and mental health issues.
41% more likely to have a parent or carer misusing substances
8 x likely to misuse substances
37% likely to witness domestic violence
37% likely to be absent from school

National Recommendations: The government needs to make child criminal exploitation a national priority. Joint inspections with OFSTED, police and probation should be enforced. Emphasis on early years within the Serious Violence Strategy. Support in the NHS of mental health resources.

Promising Prevention Programmes: