Youth violence in the UK has become a significant problem in recent years, with a rise in knife crime, assaults, and gang-related violence. The issue is of utmost concern as it threatens the safety and well-being of young people and the wider community. To better understand this issue, it is crucial to define what youth violence means. Youth violence is a broad term encompassing a range of violent behaviors committed by individuals aged 10 to 24 (Skarlatidou et al., 2022). This includes physical assault, verbal abuse, bullying, gang violence, and weapon-related violence, such as knife crime. Implementing a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of youth violence is crucial. The number of young people involved in knife crimes has increased significantly in recent years, and this has culminated to a series of devastating consequences for the victims and their families. Several factors contribute to this problem, but two leading causes of knife crime among the youth in the UK are the influence of gang culture and the lack of access to resources and opportunities. This essay explores the causes and consequences of youth violence in the UK, including analyzing the social, economic, and cultural factors contributing to this phenomenon.
Gang culture’s influence is one of the leading causes of knife crime among UK youth. In many instances, the youth join these gangs to get a sense of belonging because these groups portray togetherness and always protect each other. However, this often leads to involvement in criminal activities, including carrying knives and using them as weapons. Gang culture is identified as one of the leading causes of youth crime in the United Kingdom (UK), attributed to different features associated with the different gangs (Pitts, 2020). Some of these factors comprise; peer influence and recruitment, protection, and lack of proper role models. In most cities, if not all, unemployment is rampant, and this has rendered many youths idle and hopeless. As such, they begin to feel unwanted and thus develop an unquenched need for belonging to something bigger. Most gangs use this opportunity to create an atmosphere for these youths, encouraging them to join in masses (Skarlatidou et al., 2022). Consequently, the rate of crime increases within these cities as different gangs compete for turfs and dominance. Peer influence has contributed significantly to the effects of gang culture on youth violence. People who are not members of any gangs are often harassed, attacked, and branded cowards; therefore, the need to be protected has led many youths to different gangs where they get protection and, in turn, commit crimes on behalf of their gangs. As members of their respective gangs the youth have to commit a crime to prove their loyalty and how far they are willing to go to protect their brothers and this has contributed to increased crime in different cities of the UK.
Another factor that has contributed to increased knife crime in the UK is the shortage of resources and development opportunities for the youth. Many young people in the UK come from disadvantaged backgrounds, facing numerous life challenges. Poverty, lack of education, and unemployment are just a few of the issues many young people face. These challenges can lead to frustration, hopelessness, and a sense of desperation that can manifest in violent behavior. Many young people come from poor backgrounds, they cannot afford education. The lack of adequate learning facilities denies most students from humble backgrounds a fair opportunity to compete with their colleagues from well-to-do families (Pitts, 2020). Consequently, most of them fail to meet the standard grades for proceedings at higher learning institutions and thus become criminals. Additionally, the lack of adequate resources to improve their way of life condemns the youth to live in dangerous neighborhoods ridden with gangs; this causes them to carry weapons to protect themselves, increasing the chances of crime. The lack of access to resources and opportunities can also lead to alienation and disengagement from mainstream society. Young people who feel they have no stake in society are likelier to engage in criminal activities, including knife crime (Haylock et al., 2020). This lack of access to resources and opportunities also means that many young people do not have access to positive role models or mentors who can guide them in making positive choices. This can be exacerbated by discrimination and social exclusion, leading to resentment and anger toward society. Lack of sufficient resources is among the most critical factors that have led to increased knife crimes in the United Kingdom.
Crime among the youth has impacted the country’s economic development negatively. In the UK, crime has become a significant issue that has adversely impacted different aspects of life, like the family and community. The rate of crimes young people commit has risen exponentially, resulting in far-reaching effects on society, including financial costs, emotional trauma, and loss of life. Economically, the crimes have increased costs for the criminal justice and medical care systems. As of March 2022, the youth accounted for 18% of all crimes handled by the criminal justice system (Allen & Burton, 2023). The justice system recorded increased expenditure incurred during the processing and incarceration of over nineteen thousand juveniles between the ages of ten and seventeen. Additionally, the healthcare department was affected by increased youth crime in the UK. the rate of admission for patients related to youth crime increased by 2% in the 2021/2022 fiscal year (Allen & Burton, 2023). Furthermore, the justice system has had to increase the number of law enforcement officers to manage the effects of youth crime, meaning that more resources had to be reverted to fighting crime instead of promoting development. Economic development in many neighborhoods has reduced and sometimes stopped entirely because of increased crime (Haylock et al., 2020). Entrepreneurs have become reluctant to establish businesses because of crime, and this has, in turn, stagnated development. Youth crime imposes high economic costs on society, including policing, criminal justice, and healthcare. Victims of crime may also incur financial losses, such as damage to property, loss of income, and medical expenses. The long-term cost of youth crime has significantly influenced the economic development of the nation by causing damage to property and resources.
Another effect of youth crime in the United Kingdom is emotional and psychological torture. Various crimes have influenced different aspects of life in the country, including family, education, and mental health. Many neighborhood families have lost their young kin to crime and gangs. Parents had high hopes for their children’s future, but because of crime and the influence of these gangs, these dreams have been shattered, causing them psychological pain. In some cases, families and especially parents face ridicule and embarrassment because of social isolation because of their children’s criminal behavior (Haylock et al., 2020). Additionally, some people have lost their loved ones through youth-related violence, resulting in both mental and psychological torture for these respective families. Many young people’s education and employment prospects have been disrupted through crime and other gang-related activities. In some cases, reformed youths can barely secure jobs because most employers are cautious of their previous criminal activities, and this has caused many youths psychological pain. Increased knife crime has caused violence and injury to many criminals and innocent civilians. Young people who carry knives or other weapons are at risk of being seriously hurt or killed, as are their victims. The impact of violent crime on families and communities can be devastating and long-lasting. Mental health among young people involved in crime has also experience been affected by issues like; anxiety, depression, and substance abuse (Skarlatidou et al., 2022). This has intensified their involvement in criminal activities, thus leading to further problems, including addiction and homelessness. Crime has led to increased mental and psychological pain, which has affected many people irrespective of their involvement in a crime.
In conclusion, the causes and consequences of youth violence in the UK include an analysis of the social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to this phenomenon. Gang culture’s influence and lack of access to resources and opportunities are the leading causes of youth crime. These factors have influenced the rate of knife crime among the youth by creating loopholes exploited by the agents of crime (Haylock et al., 2020). For instance, gang culture is very prominent in many UK cities; members lead extravagant lives, which draw many youths to the side of crime. The need to belong and protect has influenced many youths to join gangs; this ensures their protection from other gangs and becomes part of something bigger, which gives them purpose. Additionally, the shortage of resources has caused many young people to miss out on opportunities to better their lives, like; better education. These issues are deeply rooted in the social and economic fabric of the UK, and addressing them will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society (Skarlatidou et al., 2022). Over the years, statistics have shown that crime has become sophisticated with time. Therefore, if the trend remains uniform, crime will likely increase with increased firearms acquisition.
Reference List
Allen, G. & Burton, M. (2023). Knife Crime Statistics – House of Commons Library, UK Parliament. House of Commons Library. Web.
Haylock, S., Boshari, T., Alexander, E.C., Kumar, A., Manikam, L. and Pinder, R., (2020). Risk factors associated with knife crime in the United Kingdom among young people aged 10–24 years: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 20(1), pp.1-19. Web.
Pitts, J. (2020). Black young people and gang involvement in London. Youth Justice, 20(1-2), pp.146–158. Web.
Skarlatidou, A., Ludwig, L., Solymosi, R. & Bradford, B. (2022). Understanding knife crime and trust in Police with young people in East London. Crime & Delinquency, p.00111287211029873. Web.