Quote Originally Posted by tomm View Post
I've worked on local news in London for the past 5 years. In that time the main constant has been services shutting down, youth clubs closing, charities losing funding. A decade of austerity has consequences - the generation growing up now are the ones who were of the age to no longer have access to good youth clubs, charities, etc.
There's also the factor that every thing kids do goes on social media - meaning that what would have been a minor dispute in the past becomes a hyper-important moment where you have to act tough and save face to avoid being humiliated. That escalates into more violence. And starts rivalries between groups of youngsters.
While some is drug related, the vast majority isn't. It's a vicious circle that needs to be broken - kids don't feel safe, so they carry knives. Kids carrying knives get in fights, as kids do but because they have knives a kid gets stabbed. Other kids don't feel safe, so they carry knives. Ad infinitum.
Sentences don't deter. It's an education issue and a diversion issue - youngsters need help to be funnelled into more positive activities they'll enjoy and that's where you can reach them - boxing clubs, youth centres, etc where role models can help them. But that takes cash.
Operation trident specifically targets black on black gun violence , if it wasn't for the Tories cutting funding to the police then maybe a similar unit could be set up to combat black on black knife crime alongside education and activity as you suggest