Children as young as 11 carrying knives because they feel unsafe, report finds

Too galore children successful England – including immoderate arsenic young arsenic 11 – are carrying knives due to the fact that they consciousness unsafe successful their neighbourhoods, a study has found.

Serious younker unit is “more far-reaching” than galore adults realise and it has a “wide impact” crossed communities, inspectorates person suggested.

Children with peculiar acquisition needs and disabilities (Send) are disproportionately astatine hazard of superior younker violence, according to the associated survey by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and HMI Probation.

The study sets retired findings from six associated targeted country inspections which looked astatine however section partnerships and services respond erstwhile children and young radical are affected by superior younker violence.

The inspections – which tracked the experiences of hundreds of children betwixt September 2023 and May 2024 successful Leeds, Coventry, Somerset, Manchester, Merton and Lancashire – recovered superior younker unit is “widespread” and full communities are affected by it.

It’s precise disturbing that children arsenic young arsenic 11 consciousness they request to transportation a weapon for their ain protection

Sir Martyn Oliver, main inspector of Ofsted

The study said: “Parents are precise acrophobic for the information of their children. We often heard of children carrying knives successful order, arsenic they described it, to support themselves.

“The fearfulness of weapon transgression among children is evident. Inspectors were alarmed astatine however galore children and professionals told them that it is communal for children to transportation a knife. This included children arsenic young arsenic 11.”

It recovered superior younker unit disproportionately affects young radical with Send – peculiarly those who mightiness beryllium considered neurodivergent – and it has called connected the Government and section agencies to prioritise the needs of these children astir astatine hazard of harm.

“Delays crossed England successful assessing children’s needs successful narration to Send are putting these children astatine greater hazard of harm,” the study warned.

It has called connected partnerships to marque it an nonsubjective to trim the over-representation of achromatic and different taste number children affected by superior younker unit successful their area.

While the inspectorates recovered examples of partnerships doing effectual enactment to trim harm, the study noted “this is not happening successful each areas”.

It said: “A nonaccomplishment to consistently place superior younker unit arsenic a safeguarding contented is leaving excessively galore children astatine superior hazard of harm.”

Some professionals did not realise the “harmful consequences” of the mode they responded to children, specified arsenic blaming them for the harm they experienced.

Inspectors besides recovered achromatic children were much apt to beryllium “adultified” successful this mode than their peers.

Separate probe from foundation Safer London, commissioned by Ofsted, recovered families affected by superior younker unit often felt a chiseled deficiency of empathy from professionals.

Sir Martyn Oliver, main inspector of Ofsted, said: “Knife transgression is blighting the lives of excessively galore children successful England. It’s a nationalist scandal.

“It’s precise disturbing that children arsenic young arsenic 11 consciousness they request to transportation a weapon for their ain protection.

“Where we spot section partnerships are moving good together, it makes a existent difference. So I anticipation this study helps amended practice, cognition and knowing for each section areas.

“Urgent enactment is needed now, to support children safe.”

Michelle Skeer, of His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said: “The effects of superior younker unit connected some children and communities are profoundly concerning.

“It is captious that constabulary forces intervene astatine the earliest accidental to disrupt the hazard to children and young people.”

Lucy Harte, lawman manager for multi-agency operations astatine the CQC, said: “The interaction of superior younker unit is an insidious harm that radical moving successful wellness services stock the accidental and work to challenge.

“As good arsenic the grade and interaction being much superior than galore adults realise, the inspection grounds besides highlights that peculiar groups are astatine accrued risk, specified arsenic children and young radical with Send.

“We person seen however effectual grooming and beardown partnerships betwixt section services tin marque a important quality to the acquisition of these susceptible children – but this is not a accordant acquisition for everyone.”

Heather Kidd, seat of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) safer and stronger communities board, said: “Multi-agency moving is cardinal successful addressing younker violence.

“It is affirmative that Ofsted has highlighted examples of section partnerships doing effectual enactment to trim harm to children and young radical from superior violence.

“Local authorities is champion placed to pb section efforts to tackle younker violence, with their quality to convene and coordinate efforts.

“While councils and their partners volition ever bash their champion to support young radical safe, they look important backing challenges and antithetic section prioritisation arrangements for each area.”