Children with knives: The alarming rise of youth violence in England

The surge in knife crime among children and teenagers in England has led to the country being dubbed the "teen murder capital of Europe." The growing trend of deadly knife-related offenses among young people, driven by the mantra "kill or be killed," continues to claim victims.

A review of news and media in England reveals that knife crimes committed by children and teenagers, often described by prosecutors as brutal and random acts, have become alarmingly widespread. The crisis of bladed weapons, particularly knives, has affected a significant number of schools across the country.

According to LBC, investigations into knife crime in English schools have yielded significant findings. Children as young as 9 are carrying bladed weapons to school, with some being arrested for this reason. A study revealed that thousands of English children carry knives to school daily, with a 60% increase in arrests of children and teenagers for carrying bladed weapons in schools over the past two years.

The study also found that, on average, 12 knives were confiscated from students in schools each day during the 2023-24 academic year. Experts describe this as the greatest threat to teenagers in the country to date.

While efforts to identify the reasons behind the sharp rise in the use of bladed weapons, particularly knives, among children and teenagers are ongoing, experts have expressed concern about the role of social media. A senior officer from the Metropolitan Police intelligence unit stated that young people routinely use social media platforms to bypass security measures that prevent the sale of bladed weapons to children.

Social media not only exposes teenagers to violent content, such as carrying and using knives, but also serves as a means for purchasing these weapons.