Recent statistics show that repeat knife crime offender numbers have reached a record high in London. Experts at London Metropolitan University discuss both the realities and misconceptions that young people in London are currently facing, leading to increases in knife crime.

Dr James Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at London Metropolitan University has identified several misconceptions surrounding knife crime through his 14 years of research. The most common misconception, which is usually a driving force in the news, is that both victims and perpetrators of knife crime are predominately young black men – suggesting it is an ethnic issue. However, Dr Alexander’s research has found that it is young white men that are more likely to carry knives.

From his research Dr Alexander identified poverty as the main catalyst to being involved in knife crime. Commenting on the issue at hand, Dr Alexander said: “Those that come from the most deprived areas and families are the most vulnerable to become victims and perpetrators. The poverty and structural issues we are experiencing today, particularly in London, have been 30 years in the making and nothing has been done about them. The poorest areas have been neglected.”

With poverty comes a host of issues that lead to further problems for young people in London, most significantly is a lack of local relationships for young people, in terms of family, friends, neighbours and even teachers. Dr Alexander added: “It seems that people don’t realise that these local relationships make young people far less likely to get involved in violent crimes. Knife crime is prevented through informal intervention from neighbours. There is a real need to address the issue of people turning a blind eye to violence, such as neighbours, residents on the estate, and family and friends.”

Dr Alexander believes that the answer lies in building communities, rather than increasing police presences; and that if neighbours and communities start to take responsibility to build and develop relationships with younger people around them, it will lead to a reduction in knife crime across London. However, it is vital that they are given the tools and support to be able to do so.

It is well known that knife crime affects entire communities. Dr Julius Elster, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BSc Youth Studies at London Metropolitan University believes that it is equally important to recognise that knife offending, and acts of violence, are a reflection of what is happening in society more generally. He commented: “Our research into youth unemployment, most recently in the North London Borough of Haringey, indicates that insecure or precarious work conditions and in-work poverty make it hard for young people to pursue a meaningful career pathway and transition into adulthood.

“In addition, we found young people stressed that there is little to no personalised support available to help with employment, mental health and wellbeing issues, leaving young people open to exploitation. Too often, little is done when there are clear signs that a young individual is ‘getting into trouble,’ being groomed by a gang, or lost into an online world – potentially fraught with danger.

“Adjacent to the rise in knife crime is the austerity policies of successful governments since the 2008 recession, which has led to youth services being cut by 77% over more than a decade and the closure of youth centres across the UK. The lack of youth workers and youth centres, alongside the increase in child poverty and precarious employment, have resulted in a gap sometimes filled by alternative sources of income and the rise in ‘county lines’ gangs, fuelling youth knife crime.”

From the research by both Dr Alexander and Dr Elster, it is clear that poverty, cuts in youth services, and a lack of local relationships are contributing factors to the increases in knife crime across London. To see incidents reduce, a community approach needs to be taken to support young people to develop meaningful relationships and fulfilling employment opportunities.

To find out more about how London Met researchers are working to reduce the impacts of crime in the region, visit: https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/about/london-met-lab/crime/