Youth Justice: Knife Crime Prevalence and Response in the UK

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the youth justice system in England and Wales, examining its development, theoretical underpinnings, and practical applications. It delves into the critical issue of knife crime among youths, presenting statistical data, exploring potential reduction strategies, and evaluating current responses. The report also offers a critical review of relevant theories, including labelling theory, strain theory, and association theory, to understand the factors influencing youth crime. Furthermore, the report discusses the prevalence of knife crime, examining its impact on communities and the initiatives undertaken to address it. It synthesizes existing research and data to offer a nuanced perspective on the complexities of youth justice and the challenges posed by knife crime, offering a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in this critical area.

Youth Justice
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Question 1 Critical analysis of development to date, on both theory and practice.....................3
Question 2 National focus on concern of Knife crime by youths................................................7
a. Are there any clear messages within the statistical data..........................................................8
b) What could be done to reduce these offences.......................................................................13
c) Current Response of the Knife crime....................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
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INTRODUCTION
Youth justice system within the England and Wales comprise of the process and organs that
can be used to defend, penalise and inmate person under 18 years of the age for committing any
criminal offence (Muncie and Goldson, 2016). Therefore, the principles purpose of Youth justice
system is to undertake the prevention that offending children and young person. Henceforth, the
crime and disorder act 1998 placed the responsibility in each local authority in terms to
undertake the steps that aids to establish and maintain the justice services for the youth. The
primary function is to monitor the operation of youth justice system and to undertake the better
provision for the youth justice service.
The present report is based on Youth justice system. Henceforth, report is based on the
activities as to define the justice that has developed significantly over the past few decades with
help of theory. Also, study has laid national focus on concern of knife crime by youths. In
addition to this, critical analysis will be conducted to discuss the prevalence and response to
Knife crime in England and Wales.
Question 1 Critical analysis of development to date, on both theory and practice
In recent times, youth justice has emerged to a great extent. This is because of rise in
crimes within youth where a lot of youngsters are involved in various types of crimes. It has
changed the perception of youth and they are engaged in more crimes. In earlier times in UK
people were highly involved in crimes. There was no act or reform through which crime can be
prevented (Anoshiravani, 2020). With it, UK government took initial steps of developing
reforms. It has been evaluated that UK is a developed nation. The knife crime includes many
types of offences such as homicide, theft, etc. With rise in crime, it has highly influenced
youngster mind. For getting successful they are engaging in crimes. This trend has increased
since past years in UK. Since past, there are several reasons that are emerging due to which
young people are engaged in crime. The reason is rise in poverty, unemployment, etc.
Furthermore, with change in reaction of society perception of people is influenced. In high class
society as well young people are involved in crime. So, it can be stated that rate of crime is
increasing in UK. But as compared to high class, in lower social class crime is more. In addition,
it is identified that in UK children are not problem but political framework. The structure and
approach towards preventing knife crime is ineffective. Furthermore, strategies applied by
government focus on public health. So, there is high rise in social and psychological risk. the
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major crimes take places in neighbourhood that causes high damage (Davis, Janssen and
Monterosso, 2019). Thus, it has resulted in creating a toxic environment for children to grow.
hence, it has created a negative impact on their behaviour. Alongside, society response is shaping
the environment through which children are diverted.
The criminal justice act of 1994 of UK consists of number of laws and rights to amend or
prevent criminal activities.
In UK in 1998 a new youth system was developed. In that 1998 crime and disorder act
was formed. The system consists of youth offending teams and youth justice board. In this age of
crime for youth is above 10 years. Moreover, main aim for this system was to prevent children
and youth to engage in crimes. Hence, a policy was formed that provided a framework of how to
promote work that prevent youth crimes. The government was involved in forming policies child
and justice welfare policies. In this DCSF, MOJ, etc were established with aim of :-
Protecting public through law in relation to children who offend or are a risk of offending things.
In this act section 10 of 2004 state cooperation between local authority and other agencies
to enhance well being of children (Clayton and Gupta, 2019). The well being is to be improved
in areas of physical and mental health, education, social and economic, etc.
Furthermore, in order to regulate and monitor overall youth system a commission was
developed. The youth justice board was set up to monitor it. It allowed Justice secretary to
suggest ways of how main aim of system can be attained. The youth offending teams work with
police and health authorities to educate youngster. Their responsibility is to work with other
agencies to avoid risk and prevent crime. Also, they provide support to youth who are on bail or
released from custody. It also ensures that youngsters are attached to society. The YOT officer is
appointed to each young person after custody to remain in contact with them. It allows in
cooperating with it locally. The Governor supervises officer. Likewise, in April 2000 section
41(5) of act the YJB became commission for entire body and forms of offering services to
children and young people.
Many authors have provided relevant theories related to criminal behaviour. They
analysed behaviour of people and how society respond towards it. With help of theory it is easy
to identify how people behaviour is influenced. Hence, there are different types of theories that
reflect on youth crimes (Holliday Taylor and Hunter, 2020). The theory enables in analysing
the behaviour of youth towards crime. The theories are as follows :-
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Labelling theory – the theory states that no act is intrinsically criminal. this means criminality is
defined through formulation of laws and applied by court and police. Thus, unconventionality is
that a group of individual but rather interaction of deviant and no deviant in context of crime. So,
labelled is called as rules that define deviant behaviour which is framed by rich for poor, high
class for low class, etc. However, the dominance of high social groups control and deviant other
groups. Here, for instance, stealing fruits may be considered as act of growing up for children in
high class society. On other hand, in poor areas this activity is considered as crime. So, it clearly
shows the difference between behaviour. Furthermore, once label is attached it is difficult to
remove it. In addition to it, the label affect on self concept. So, due to it, there is change in
behaviour. Hence, it influence it in negative way causing person to get involve in crime.
The theory was first presented by Gibbs. He stated that it focused on reaction of specific
type of behaviour. If any individual is involved in crime but any reaction from society result in
deviant act (Kubek, Tindall-Biggins and Fenning, 2020). So, it creates a problem for their
theory. Alongside, Aker defined a different problem. He said that we still do not know exact
problem behind law breaking. The criticism here is nature of reaction from different society. It
means that if reaction is related to deviant behaviour then deviance does not change among
societies.
Strain theory – the theory identify gap that occur between society goals and how they are
attained legally. It was developed by Merton who believe that American society is meritocratic.
It means to work hard to become successful. Here, he focuses on becoming successful rather
than doing things in legal way. Therefore, it led to rise in crimes like fraud and theft. Merton
provided several responses to strain. He argued that not everyone responds to strain in similar
way. Basically, there are 5 reaction given by society which is as follows :-
Conformity – in this people of society will accept goals and achieve it in legal way. Usually,
upper class people do so.
Innovator – here, people of society accept goals but they have identified and developed a new
way of doing it in legal way. the lower class people do so (Ruch, Sheftall and Bridge, 2019).
Ritualism- the members of society agreed to goals but also accept the legitimate behaviour.
Retreatism – they completely reject goals of society and are highly engaged in illegal way of
doing things or behaviour. For example – drug addict, etc.
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Rebels – as name depicts the member reject goals of society and form new goals. the main
purpose is for betterment of society. For example- environment friendly people.
The theory explain strain highly influence individual in society. With help of it,
government can make changes in social structure. they can provide employment to people,
educate them, etc. along with it, the theory is not applicable in all deviant behaviour.
Robert agnew’s general strain theory- the theory addresses many criticisms of original strain
theory. In original theory it is stated that when aspiration increases and expectation are not
attained then this led to increase in crime. However, Agnew studied that there was high number
of crimes in high class but not in lower class. In this other variable were eliminated like family
relationship and crime in young age. He expanded scope of strain theory in which many
variables were included to address criticism of original theory. In this perspective were changed
from goals to money (Walters and Bolger, 2019). It was considered in social class, future
expectation, etc. the theory explains that when people are upset, they engage in crime.
Furthermore, the theory measures different types of strain and establish link between crime and
strain.
Association theory – It states that criminal behaviour is developed by interacting with other
people. This means that people will either obey or violate law which depend on their current
situation of life. However, theory accept that criminal behaviour is apparent in all social classes
thus behaviour is learned by interaction with influential groups. But many authors argued this
theory. they said that people behaviour can not be influenced by communication. For instance,
how a child can learn to steal something.
Therefore, it is evaluated that society response plays a vital role in influencing criminal
behaviour (Zapolski, Clifton and Aalsma, 2019). Generally, in middle and high class knife
crimes are increased. The young people are involved in it. Moreover, theory reflect on how
behaviour is influenced by society. Also, how perception regarding crime varies in different
society. Therefore, it can be said that in UK knife crime is social issue and its cause is poverty,
unemployment, etc. The young people are targeting old age and single persons. By interacting
with group of people who is engaged in criminal activity, youngsters are violating law. They are
getting influence by others easily. Each theory relate behaviour with society or needs of person.
It reflects the way in which society goals are achieved either in legal or illegal way.
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Question 2 National focus on concern of Knife crime by youths
Critical discuss the prevalence and response of the Knife crime in England and Wales.
Agencies and political leader across the London taking the various initiatives to protect
the children from the Knife crime. Thus, knife crime has the huge impact over the communities
as well children in which they live not just at the level of London but also at national level.
Therefore, this can be stated that London is the country that has the largest population of knife
crime. As per the view of Taylor, (2016) stated that causes to the knife crime within the UK are
as poverty, deprivation, social exclusion etc. These are the core factors that has influenced the
rise of the knife crime and gang violence within young in some inner cities within the United
Kingdom. This is crime that mainly happens to threaten people with knife to undertake the
offence as robbery. In contrary to Crawford and Newburn, (2018) stated that in attempting to
estimate the levels of offence related to knife crime the report is dependent on number of the
official documents. Since 2008, the knife crime has been taken as any offence that satisfies the
following criteria as-:
 This is classified as offence as homicide, attempted murder, assault with the injury, threat
to kill and any sexual offences falls under this category.
 At the where the knife and sharp instrument used to injure and to threaten any individual
or any victim has convinced that knife was present at the time of occurrence of offence.
From research this can be stated that, knife is on the rise across the country. In the year 2016,
London is mainly accounted for almost three in ten recorded knife offence at the nationally level.
Within the period as 12 months in the march 2017, the total number over 12000 knife crime has
registered in London. It has been identified that the almost 49% of the victims engaged in
offence as Knife crime were aged 24 or Younger. The legal authorities of London are taking
various initiatives to undertake the prevention from such violent crime and there are mainly
complexities that is inclusion in addressing the issues of knife crime.
Thus, findings have been undertaken in terms to assist the makers of the national policy
and leaders of school in terms to focussing over the present and future approaches to tackling the
crime. In the year ending march 2019, there were around 47000 offences that involving the knife
and sharp instrument within the England and Wales. Thus, the prevalence of knife crime occurs
due to the issue of poverty. Herein, it can be stated that poverty is the main cause to all crimes.
Therefore, underlying socio-economic drivers behind the knife crime cannot be ignored. Thus,
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there are number of the partnership and working agencies are taking steps to keep the
communities safe and to prevent the violent crime.
a. Are there any clear messages within the statistical data
Offences as knife crime continually causing the serious harm to victims and this also
creates the fear in communities (Goldson and Muncie, 2018). Hence, UK is on the top when it
comes to knife crime. The current statistical data has showed that 93% increase within the
number of young people aged 16 and being treated for the assault by knife.
As per the above statistical graph this can be stated that there were total number of knife
crime offences were as 43,516 till the ending of march 2019. It has enhanced to 80% rise from
the low point in the year ending march 2014 and there were total offences were as 24, 121 and
this can be considered as the highest number since the comparable data was complied. From the
total of 44 policies forces, the 43 has almost recorded as the continual increment in the knife
crime since the year 2011.
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Illustration 1: Knife offences in England and Wales
(Source: Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales, 2019)

Based on the above graph this has been stated that the data for the NHS hospitals within
the England over the similar period has showed the 8% enhancement in admission for attack by a
sharp object. Thus, victims suffered from the injuries are more server and this offence is mainly
committed to the girls.
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Illustration 2: Number of hospital admission for knife assaults
(Source: Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales, 2019)

From the above statistical data from the England and Wales has been stated that the
policing criminal justice and sentencing are devolved within the Scotland and Northern Ireland
that also collect the crime data within the slimly different ways. This offence has been occurred
mainly to assault local public and this caused injury and can be occurred as serious harm. Thus,
the total of 21,700 crimes were assault and 20,180 involved robberies.
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Illustration 3: Crimes for knives used
(Source: Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales, 2019)

Figure 1 (Homicides committed by knife)
(Source: Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales, 2019)
It is interpreted from table that knife crime went from 27 in 2007 to 186 in 2015. But then
it is increasing every year. However, in 2017 it went to 280. Also, one of four victims were men
of age 18-24.
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Figure 2 Use of knife
(Source: Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales, 2019)
By analysing above chart, it is stated that in UK most violence is been done with use of
knife in 2018. Here, about 79% crimes were reported use of knife in it. The violence is caused by
hitting, showing, knife to people.
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