Rise in knife crime involving kids in West Yorkshire

The number of children getting involved in knife crime in West Yorkshire has almost tripled in the space of a year.

Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information Request show that, in 2015, 27 children aged 14 and under were linked as an offender to crimes involving knives, compared to 10 the year before. The youngest was just nine years old.

The figures from West Yorkshire Police also reveal the force has arrested and charged children as young as 11 for offences involving knives - and Inspector Tom Harrison says it can become a vicious circle if people decide to 'arm' themselves for protection: "Without a doubt the consequences are only clear when something does happen.

"Just taking a knife out in the first place is going to put them at far higher risk of becoming involved in a serious assault. It also means if we have information leading to a search of a young person, and we do find a knife, chances are they are going to be arrested. It's not something we'll take lightly."

Over the past five years, a total of 137 children aged 15 and under have been arrested in connection with violent or sexual offences involving a knife in West Yorkshire, and nearly half of those were in Leeds. The figures show 63 were charged or summonsed.

The Leeds-based project works to deter young people from entering into a life of crime by educating them and providing opportunities for them to find and develop skills.

"In Leeds, I feel like there is so much potential and so much talent, but there's no platforms or anywhere for people to go," Paddy says.

"If there was somewhere for young people to go, they wouldn't be on that street so they wouldn't be a 'gang'. They'd be in a collective or in a team in a community centre.

"There are people sat in parliaments and in Downing Street, but they're not coming to the communities and reaching out to the youth to ask them what they want or what they need to make things change. And the more the young generation are ignored and not understood, these things will happen."

Paddy went on to join poetry group Leeds Young Authors, travelling to America to compete, and now goes into schools to work with children to try and provide them with the same sort of opportunity that changed his life.

"It's not about gangs, or knives, or guns," he says. "Nobody really wants that lifestyle. Instead of focusing on gangs, talk to them about their talents. If you love football, how can we get you to the premier league? If you're a writer, how can we help you with that? Whatever you're interested in, focus on that."

Speak to the Streets was founded by Shane Fenton following the death of his mum Pat Regan - a prolific anti-violence campaigner who was stabbed to death in 2008.

He agrees that educating young people and providing them with opportunities to express themselves in a positive way is key to tackling violent crime.

"I try and input some self esteem into these young people," says Shane.

"I help them develop their secret skill that's in there. Education is really important, especially when it comes to knife crime, because a lot of it is bravado. Through bravado and peer pressure, they actually pull the trigger or they actually carry the knife.

"It's not really what they want to do or how they've been brought up. But education and something for them to do would cut these statistics down by half. I see people who used to bring knives to my groups but now they're in schools working with other kids. I see the change in them. They've been given a skill and something to look forward to."

Shane lost both his mum and his brother to violent crime, and says many young people who carry knives don't realise how dangerous they are until it's too late

"Knives, guns, any kind of weapons, they're being presented on TV every day and they're kind of being desensitised.

"To this day, when I'm in the kitchen and my wife pulls a knife out the drawer, it shocks me, I take a breath. She's got a knife in her hand! You never really get over it once you've had that experience. It will affect you."

Inspector Tom Harrison admits it can be a challenge to maintain a good relationship between the police and young people, but says it's something the force have become much better at over the past decade.

"I think we can always do more," he says.

"It is worrying, as a parent and a police officer, that there are kids as young as that involved with crime. Statistically we know that if they've been brought up in a violent environment where there's family issues, they are going to be more likely to have a tendency towards violence because they've seen it, and that's a tragedy.

"But it's worth noting that the numbers are relatively low, and they have fluctuated, and in some cases have improved. But we have to do more, and we have to keep on doing what we are doing.

"What should be understood is that behind those figures there's a lot of work going on which means it can be dealt with in schools or at a local level rather than taking it to a really formal situation where we're prosecuting young people.

"It is difficult when you carry out effectively a formal law enforcement role to be able to do the other side of things and have that relationship which the uniform may or may not be a barrier to.

"It's about engaging with young people in diversionary activities which really pull people together. I've been part of football tournaments and fireworks displays. We also do stuff like mountain biking and taking them out for walks. That's where we gain the understanding and trust.

"With the right people employed in the police - which I think we're much better at now - that breaking through barriers is much easier."

You can find more information about Speak to the Steets here.

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