Youth crime - what can we do about youth violence?
Youth crime is such a big issue that there isn't one simple solution. The Government are looking at lots of different ways to tackle youth crime and disorder, from tougher prison sentences, to a new youth justice system, more education and money for community projects.
Education
Experts agree that education needs to play a role, 'Many young people that we work with don't always appreciate the dangers of carrying knives or fully understand the law,' says Jane Edmonds from Rainer Crime Concern. 'It's simply not enough to tell young people to stop carrying knives, we need to give them strategies, tactics and confidence.'
Care
'We criminalise young people and give up on them, but every human being feels hurt sometimes. But to be honest, I don't know what the solution is. Society has created this underground culture, which has thrived with the break-up of families, poverty and deprivation. Young people want respect, need to make money and want to belong, so a gang is the perfect answer and the only answer in the current culture.'
Morals
Adolescent psychiatrist Cathy Smith says: 'Some of the young people that commit violent crime come from a family where domestic violence is the norm, they may not understand that violence is wrong. Or they may have been treated violently themselves. And knowing right from wrong is a big part of this problem - and it's all of our problem. Years ago God, the Church and family elders told us what was acceptable behaviour. These days we don't know what the moral guidelines are, for example, some people wouldn't dare park in a disabled parking space, whereas others think it's fine if there are no drivers with disabilities around that need the space. But unless there is something written down that everyone understands and agrees with then we don't know where to start.'
Communication
Jane, Morris and Cathy all agree that communication is the first step to resolving problems and the big gap between young people and adults. 'In the Med parents eat with their children and go out with their children at night, the whole family, including the grandparents dress up and go for a walk through the town, people know each other and talk to each other, they celebrate and value children and young people - I think we could take a leaf out of their book. The first step is to start talking to your children and young people,' says Cathy.
Where to next?
- Feel fired up about this issue? Chat to other goodtoknow users
- Find more information on teenagers and knife crime
- Learn how to talk to your teen
By Louise O'Connell
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Emelia, 5 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]
seriously, i dont have a clue what it must be like to live in a city like london or manchester where knife crime is apparently so bad, weather it is as bad as the press is making out, i dont know. youths need some were to go, and something to do, instead of hanging about on the street, or the park drinking cider, we need something to do different. old people have the social club, i think we should have something like that, just some were to go, to stay out of trouble, in the warm, a few adults to keep us undercontrol fine, anything is better than what we do now. and i dont even live in a place were there is alot of trouble. it needs sorting out, poeple our age get so much bad stuff said about us, you never ever hear in the news or on tv anything good about our generation, only bad stuff. its sorting out, before its too late, if it isnt already. im not even a smart person, im 15, and even i know that. what is it gonna take the goverment to realise its not gonna fix its self.