Serious youth violence in England is widespread and not restricted to particular ethnic or demographic groups, according to investigators who were told that children as young as 11 are carrying knives for protection.
The joint report by school, police and probation inspectors found that youth violence could be reduced by careful early intervention but warned that the dangers facing children were more far-reaching than realised by many adults.
The report includes harrowing accounts of children and families affected by serious youth violence, as well as the links between the increase in violence and the harmful exploitation of children used in “county lines” drugs organised by criminal gangs.
Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, said that “urgent action is needed now” to keep children safe.
“Knife crime is blighting the lives of too many children in England. It’s a national scandal. It’s very disturbing that children as young as 11 feel they need to carry a knife for their own protection.”
“Where we see local partnerships are working well together, it makes a real difference. So I hope this report helps improve practice, knowledge and understanding for all local areas,” Oliver said.
The report is based on joint targeted area inspections carried out since September 2023 by teams from Ofsted, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, HMI Probation and the Care Quality Commission, which regulates social care providers.
The teams inspected services and interviewed hundreds of young people and their families in Leeds, Manchester, Coventry, the London borough of Merton, Lancashire and Somerset.
The inspectors were “alarmed” to learn that “carrying a knife is the norm for some children,” with a failure to identify serious youth violence as a safeguarding risk was leaving children in danger.
“We found examples of local partnerships doing effective work to reduce harm to children from serious youth violence, but this is not happening in all areas … not all local partnerships are sufficiently focused on serious youth violence. This leaves some children at risk of harm,” it said.
The inspectors praised the use of “navigators” working in hospitals in Merton, who were able to intervene in cases of children or young people being treated for stab wounds and quickly set up links with agencies offering support and protection.
But in another case, a child who had been shot and later injured in a knife attack was initially accused of lying by the police until they viewed CCTV footage.
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Michelle Skeer, His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said: “It is vital that police forces intervene at the earliest opportunity to disrupt the risk to children and young people. Officers and staff need to be trained to respond effectivelyand crucially, with a focus on the best interests of the child.”
“I am encouraged that the police and their safeguarding partners in most areas are increasingly working with schools and other education providers to reduce the risks children face. Forces must continue to strengthen their partnerships, communicate effectively, and share information consistently to protect children.”
Heather Kidd, chair of the Local Government Association’s safer and stronger communities board, said: “Local government is best placed to lead local efforts to tackle youth violence, with their ability to convene and coordinate efforts.
“While councils and their partners will always do their best to keep young people safe, they face significant funding challenges and different local prioritisation arrangements for each area.”
The findings underlined how the risk of violence was reduced when local authorities, schools and charities worked together. In one case, a boy named Alex, who was being harmed by criminal exploitation, was encouraged into an apprenticeship by professionals after they had won the support of his mother.
“This has significantly contributed to reducing harm to Alex from serious youth violence and child criminal exploitation,” the report noted.
