The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is sharing its Knife Crime Insights
Pack to add context to the YJB's Annual Statistics which include
data on knife crime and offensive weapons.
The YJB Annual Statistics
highlight:
- In the year ending March 2024, there were just over 3,200
knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children
resulting in a caution or sentence, which is 6% fewer than the
previous year but 20% greater than 10 years ago. This is the
sixth consecutive year-on-year decrease.
- In the latest year, the vast majority (99.7%) of knife or
offensive weapon offences committed by children were possession
offences and the remaining 0.1% were threatening with a knife or
offensive weapon offences.
- Out-of-court disposals are a method of resolving an
investigation outside of court. In the year ending March
2024, 61% of disposals given to children for a knife or offensive
weapon offence were a community sentence. This proportion is
broadly stable over the last 10 years.
- The proportion of children sentenced to immediate custody was
7% in the last year, which is the same level it has been for the
last three years.
Included within the Knife Crime Insights
Pack (PDF, 417
KB, 16 pages) are a number of evidence-based insights into what
works and what doesn't. There are also a number of
recommendations informed by these insights, which are:
- The YJB supports attempts to reduce knife supply.
- The YJB supports individualised decisions on outcomes.
- The YJB supports local strategies to address the conditions
that sustain violence.
- The YJB supports local partnerships working together to
ensure that adults meet the needs of children.
Chief Executive, Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, said:
Any incidence of violence involving knives and weapons is one too
many. This type of violence, specifically involving children,
should not happen and when it does, it is an emotionally charged
time for all involved, not least for the victims, their families
and the communities who are so greatly impacted. My heart goes
out to those affected.
Our Annual Statistics which we published last week show a
worrying number of children still involved in offences involving
weapons. While the overall picture is improving, it is important
to consider the broader context, which is so often missed when we
speak of individual tragedies.
To address knife crime adequately, it is vital that we understand
the context in which children live their lives – so publicly and
with an increasing use of social media and technology. This is
exacerbated by the pandemic which will have affected maturation
and development. It is essential that children have access to
early intervention and the right support at the critical stages
of their lives. Evidence shows this work is crucial in preventing
further harm, reducing the number of victims and creating safer
communities through steering children away from carrying weapons.
We cannot underestimate the importance of attendance in inclusive
education as a protective factor in preventing children
offending. Equally important is support from health services when
appropriate. We will continue to do all we can to provide
evidence-based advice to ministers and all partners responsible
for preventing children offending, including local authorities,
children's social care, education, health, probation and police.
The pack is a comprehensive report which informs the basis of
cross-sector discussions hosted by the YJB. The pack provides
context to the landscape of knife crime by summarising facts, and
insights gathered from experts who work with children in the
youth justice system. It also provides recommendations based on
the evidence. These insights draw attention to the significant
role that early intervention, targeted prevention and diversion
programs play in reducing knife crime by children.
Chair of the Youth Justice Board, Keith Fraser, commented:
Understanding the landscape of knife crime is essential to
reducing the number of victims affected by it, which is why this
insights pack was developed. It is also why senior experts and
decision makers are routinely invited to discuss the insights and
refine the recommendations.
We hear a lot in the press that “knife crime is an epidemic”. In
actual fact, the statistics show that knife crime has been
decreasing since 2019 and we want to continue this trend by
highlighting what works based on the evidence.
There is very weak evidence to support that ‘scared straight'
initiatives, weapons amnesties, increased stop and search or
mandatory sentencing have any sustained impact on knife crime in
communities. Initiatives that do work are social skills training,
mentoring and tailored support with education, housing and
employment.
For more information access the full Knife
Crime Insights Pack on the Youth Justice Resource Hub
