Rise in West Country knife crime blamed on social media & news
That's according to a new report from Bristol City Council
A member of staff at Bristol City Council is blaming social media and the news, as the reasons more young people are carrying knives.
In a new report due to be questioned by councillors next week (February 19), a council director says young people feel unsafe in certain areas “mainly because of negative online and media coverage”.
The report has been written by Fiona Tudge, director of children and families services, who will be quizzed by councillors on the people scrutiny commission on Monday.
It also covers how cases of children being exploited appear to be rising in Bristol.
She said: “There are ongoing concerns of young people continuing to carry weapons out of a misplaced sense of safety or protection.
"Anecdotally, young people are telling us they are carrying knives as they are feeling unsafe in certain areas and communities.
"This is mainly because of the negative online and media coverage, not necessarily first-hand experience.
“We hypothesise that this is being re-enforced by national reporting of youth violence.
"We also see many young people exposed to violence between peers, with videos of fights and similar on social media.
"These young people would not have been exposed to this previously, and social media appears to be exacerbating some children’s perceptions of being unsafe in communities."
Ms Tudge continues that this increase has taken place in the context of austerity and the cost of living crisis, with poverty also "a significant driver of a child's vulnerability".
This all comes following a spate of recent incidents in the West Country involving knives, including the deaths of two boys in Knowle West and several others across Bristol and Bath.
Yesterday (13 February) Avon and Somerset Police announced extra patrols around Bristol specifically targeting knife crime.
Meanwhile, last year the social services department in Bristol received a much higher number of referrals for children facing harm compared to 2022, including criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation and substance misuse.
Referrals for serious youth violence increased by 50 per cent, from 94 cases in 2022 to 141 last year.