Government issues response to Youth Select Committee report on knife crime

Evidence gathering

The Committee gathered evidence for its report entitled Our Generation’s Epidemic: Knife Crime in July 2019 following a UK-wide ballot of 1.1 million young people aged 11 to 18, in which young people declared knife crime their biggest concern.

They heard from a range of expert witnesses including leaders from the worlds of business, politics and the charity sector. Their report was published in February 2020.

Their investigation concluded that socio-economic factors are crucial in making some young people vulnerable to violence, gangs and knife crime and highlighted the need for better services to reach those at risk. The report also encouraged the Government to ensure the views of those with lived experience of knife crime are embedded into the Serious Violence Strategy and challenged the government on stop and search powers and short term custodial sentences for those who carry knives.

Government response

In their response, the Government stated that they are committed to tackling violent crime, including addressing key drivers of crime and diverting people away from involvement in serious violence. The Government pointed to targeted investment in early intervention programmes that will seek to help young people, as well as to initiatives to support youth workers, ex-offenders and those who have been expelled from school.

The Government response also addressed some of the Committee’s major concerns related to custodial sentences and stop and search. The Government declared their support for fair and targeted stop and search, and that this should never be based on someone’s race or ethnicity.

The Government also agreed to the recommendation to engage and work with young people on the issue of knife crime, including those with lived experience of relevant policy areas.

The Report and the Government response

Read the full Government response and Committee report:

• Youth Select Committee 2019: Our Generation's Epidemic, Knife Crime
• The Government Response to the 2019 Youth Select Committee Report

Rachel Ojo, Chair of the Youth Select Committee, said:

“The Youth Select Committee is very pleased to have finally received a response from the Government – over a year after our report was released.

“The issue of violent knife crime is one of the biggest facing young people in this country and while we are glad that some of our recommendations have been agreed to, we implore the Government to act on their commitment, to ensure that tackling knife crime is not only top of their agenda but that preventative measures take a priority”

The Youth Select Committee is a joint initiative between British Youth Council and Parliament. It gives young people from across the country the opportunity to scrutinise and hold inquiries into topics of importance to them. The eleven committee members are aged 11-18 and include Members of the UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councillors and representatives from each of the devolved nations.

Image PC/Jessica Taylor. This image was taken before Covid-19 restrictions were in place.