UK Knife Crime

There has been a growing trend in knife crime in the UK in recent years, especially amongst todays impressionable youths. But why have todays youngsters turned to such extreme violence in a variety of different situations.

I for one have grown up in an area where knife crime has always been a problem, but even I was truly astonished by the sheer number of youths carrying knives today. Todays annual figures show that 46% of 15-17 year olds admit to carrying a knife for self defense. This is only the number who would actually admit to carrying a knife in self defence, so the true figure could in fact be higher.

It is incredible to think that these youths are getting themselves into situations, or feeling so threatened by todays society, that they are going to the extreme of carrying a knife in order to protect themselves. Is this something that could be prevented if our youngsters felt safer when they left their homes? But it isn’t only outside their homes they feel they must take these drastic measures; 29% of UK pupils admit to carrying a knife to school. A school environment should be a place of safety for a teenager, and somwhere they can actively further themselves without fear yet this is clearly not the case.

The UK government have already had amnesty days, in which individuals with offensive weapons can surrender them to the police, free of charge or any warnings. But with these statistics, it seems to show that it is not the threat of prison or a criminal record that scares them, but purely their own safety. And it poses the question that if you knew alot of people where carrying knives in your area or school, would you carry one in the fear of ever being attacked and having a last resort to protect yourself?

Whilst the government are quick to criticise the increasing number of ”violent teenagers”, it seems evident that it is fear of harm to themselves that provokes this extreme measure of self protection.

It does pose the question of whether the government are truly doing enough to make Britons street not just a safer place, but feel like a place in which you can feel safe on its streets.