Youth Select Committee begin investigation into UK’s knife crime epidemic

The British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee formally begins a new inquiry into the UK’s knife crime epidemic. The pioneering Committee is calling for evidence from a wide range of contributors, including young people, charities, and businesses.

The announcement comes following a UK-wide ballot of young people 1.1 million aged 11 to 18 in which young people declared knife crime their biggest concern. And more than 100,000 people signed a Government petition demanding a debate on knife crime – resulting in Parliament debating the issue last month.

But research from the House of Commons library has given even greater cause for concern on the spread of the epidemic, as it revealed that knife crime, particularly where it affects young people, has been a ‘persistent and growing concern’ for successive governments. 

Putting a stop to the ever-growing scourge of knife crime is fast becoming a national priority, with the Government making several announcements in recent months, including the introduction of knife crime prevention orders and investment in early intervention projects.

Now in its eighth year, the Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The eleven committee members are aged 15-17 and include Members of the UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councillors, and representatives from each of the devolved nations.

This year, the committee will look at issues including:

• Is the Government strategy doing enough to effectively combat knife crime?
• Are there trends in the statistics of who is perpetrating and who are the victims of knife crime?
• How is knife crime affecting public services?

Bailey-Lee Robb, a Member of the Youth Select Committee from Fife, Scotland said: “Young people have made it very clear that knife crime continues to be a significant concern.

“The Youth Select Committee want to hear from a whole range of people on this issue so we can find solutions that will have a demonstrable impact of the lives of young people.”

Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons said: “Every year the Youth Select Committee play a vital role in raising awareness about the issues affecting young people across the country.

“This year the Committee’s determination to tackle the epidemic of knife crime is something that I wholly support. I will be following this pioneering Committee as they investigate the scourge of knife crime and I eagerly anticipate their report.”

The Youth Select Committee call for evidence closes on Friday 7^th June 2019 and the Committee will hold oral evidence sessions in the House of Commons in July.  

Find out more about the Youth Select Committee