Dr Erin Sanders-McDonagh from the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research comments on the government's new measures to tackle knife crime, and why they are unlikely to make a difference.
‘The recent measures being proposed by the Government to try to tackle knife crime will have no meaningful impact on levels of violence. Findings from my research with over 100 young offenders in London (many of whom are gang-affiliated) suggests that when very young people (those under 14 years of age) carry knives, they usually do this because of they are afraid of becoming victims of violence themselves.
‘All of the young people I interviewed grew up in areas with high levels of deprivation – some on estates where we know it is almost impossible to escape poverty and violence. Criminalizing young people will only make the problem worse – as many young people from the project suggested time they spent in Youth Offending Institutions made them more likely to offend because these spaces were more violent than the world outside.
‘We cannot stop young people offending by implementing curfews or cutting off their social media access. Not only will young offenders find ways around this, but it fundamentally misses the real problem driving these issues: austerity. It is not a surprise that violent crime is rising as the impacts of drastic funding cuts from the Conservative government are fully embedded.
‘The lack of funding to support vulnerable people – and particularly young people – is the key issue here. We need to make sure that teachers, social workers and other key statutory workers are well-paid, well-trained and understand how to engage with at-risk young people effectively. This is far more likely to yield a decrease in violent crime rates – but these are more complicated issues that cannot be easily solved.’
The University’s Press Office provides the media with expert comments in response to topical news events. Colleagues who would like to learn more about how to contribute their expertise or how the service works should contact the Press Office on 3985 or pressoffice@kent.ac.uk