That’s one of the key findings from a recent study commissioned by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), and it paints a dark picture. Suspects in violent crimes in the nation’s capital are becoming increasingly younger. Lib Peck, director of the VRU, leads the study that found a dramatic increase in serious crimes committed by children aged 10 to 14. We have seen this trend since 2019 through 2023. This tragic trend is a tragic reminder of a much larger issue. Youth violence is quickly becoming an issue that is on the agendas of educators and policymakers alike.
The study found a shocking rise in violent and property crimes by 10-14-year-olds. That percentage has dramatically increased from 15.9% in 2019 to 18.3% in 2023. Older teens 15-18 had reduced rates of committing the most serious offenses. Their share fell from 47.8% in 2005 to 43.5% by 2017 in the same time frame. For the first time, young adults between the ages of 19 and 25 started turning out in droves. In doing so, their turnout climbed from 36.3% participation to 38.3%.
Peck made clear that early intervention is key to preventing youth violence before it happens. She said, “It makes perfect, perfect sense. What we know is the safest place for our kids is in school. Her comments underscore the critical role that educational settings play in fostering safe environments for children and addressing potential issues before they escalate.
At nearby Torridon Primary School in Catford, programs to help younger kids develop these skills are well in progress. Head teacher, Manda George, worked with the school’s inclusion leader, Sai Satyadeva. As a result, together they have developed a strategy known as Rally Robin. This approach trains students to wait patiently in conversations, promoting an environment of listening and learning along with conflict management and respect.
Students such as Isla, an 11-year-old, have appreciated this approach. She added, “I understand everyone else’s perspective.” Similarly, Ethan, a 10-year-old student, noted how it helps him express disagreement politely: “but not in a rude way. We don’t respond with no, you’re wrong, or get out.” This comment underscores how important initiatives like Acting Out have become in improving children’s social skills.
Manda George from the Telluride Foundation understands that building speech and language skills from the start is crucial. This interaction is a critical intervention to help guide children away from violence as they get older. On early intervention she argued, “The sooner we’re able to provide services to children the better. It’s too late by the time they get to high school.” Her point of view has become the new normal among educators, as pedagogues start to realize that reactive approaches will no longer suffice in controlling young people.
As part of the Smart School Streets initiative, the VRU has introduced a three-year, £3 million project including 70 primary schools in seven boroughs. This program serves to broaden children’s communication skills and enable them to deal with disagreements without having to engage in violence. Peck explained that by allowing children to work out their disagreements before they get angry or offended, they can stop problems from escalating. This proactive resolution prevents us from having to step in with suspensions and exclusions.
Peck’s observations shed light on the link between communication skills and behavioural problems in youth today. She remarked that a young person’s failure to self-express quickly enough tends to leave them outside of school if not suspended. This was not her fault, but this communication barrier often leads to harmful behavior. This powerful statement emphasizes the need to give all children the tools to create their own narratives.
Peck was not afraid to dive into the complexities of youth violence in an increasingly digital world. We need to understand this picture of the online world. It’s really important to link those incidents to actual physical violence,” she said. Her remarks suggest that addressing youth violence requires a multifaceted approach that considers both online and offline influences.
The resulting recommendations of the VRU study have put Londoners on edge about the growing wave of youth violence. Notably, Peck’s concern was an issue that was troubling many Londoners. He said, “It’s completely justified for them to be concerned….We are losing way too many young people to this cycle of violence. These data underscore the need for communities to engage in comprehensive planning and prevention strategies to confront this growing crisis.
The ongoing initiative at Torridon Primary School has yielded impressive outcomes. Peck shares some pretty remarkable stats— Ninety-six percent of young people who participated in these lessons were able to catch up with their peers. Even more impressive, 81% were able to reduce it by more than half. These figures show that precocious behavioural problems – the most common form of learning impairment – can be markedly reduced through timely interventions and practices.
Educators and policymakers are meeting this urgent challenge squarely. Most importantly, they are laser-focused on implementing preventive measures that put children’s well-being first while they’re young and developing. Unfortunately, the data is showing us an even deeper and more troubling trend. It demonstrates that improving communication skills can have a profound impact on preventing youth violence.
