Knife Crime: What parents need to know and what they can do

Knife crime is a devastating issue affecting communities across the UK. It’s a crisis ripping through communities, leaving families shattered and futures stolen. Across the UK, and especially in cities like London, young people are being pulled into violence, not because they want to hurt others, but because fear leaves them feeling like they have no choice. The numbers don’t lie. Knife crime is rising, lives are being lost, and entire communities are being scarred. 

But this isn’t just about crime – it’s about a system that’s failing young people. Over the last decade, nearly £1bn has been stripped from youth services, gutting the very spaces designed to keep young people safe and supported. When opportunities vanish, youth clubs close their doors and hope is replaced with struggle, where do young people turn? 

We are all looking for a sense of belonging but when the places that offer safety and community are torn away, that need doesn’t disappear – it just shifts. For too many young people, the only spaces left are the ones that lead them into danger, into gangs and into exploitation. And once they’re in, getting out isn’t easy. This isn’t just a problem. It’s a failure we can’t afford to ignore.