Teenage crime survey published
- 00:01:57
- ITN
Teenage crime survey published
One in ten young people has been personally affected by gun and knife crime, a report claims.Children's charity NCH warned that teenagers were worried about offences in their area and often felt in danger.The study, Step Inside Our Shoes: Young People's Views On Gun And Knife Crime, questioned more than 800 people under 25 over a six-month period.Chief executive Clare Tickell said: "The results provide a dramatic snapshot into the thoughts and experiences of children and young people."We're talking about young children who have real detailed knowledge about gun culture, teenagers who know someone that has been stabbed and many young people who don't feel safe in their own neighbourhood."Almost two in three respondents gave drugs (66 per cent), self-protection (63 per cent), image (63 per cent), peer pressure (63 per cent) and revenge (61 per cent) as reasons for their peers becoming involved in gun and knife crime.Almost half (46 per cent) said types of music and violent computer games could contribute and 53 per cent said giving 17 to 21-year-olds longer sentences could help reduce such crime.Ms Tickell said: "We need to stop generalising and labelling young people as just the problem. They are a group that can take us to the solution."Instead of demonising youth, we need to engage and challenge, leaving children and young people with the emotional wellbeing and confidence to meet life's challenges."NCH recommended that children under 16 should be included in crime survey data to help understand the extent to which young people are victims of crime.The report also called for more access to structured activities, and involving young people in developing community-based youth services.
ITN | April 17, 2008
