Rarely a day goes by without a headline in the news around weapons and young people. Whether it’s a tragic incident involving knives, guns, or other type of offensive weapon, the prevalence of weapon-related crime among children and young people appears to be on the rise.
According to statistics from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales, there were over 3,200 weapon-related offences committed by children and young people in the year ending March 2024. This is a 20% increase over the past decade.
In January 2025, the Youth Endowment Fund released an updated report around trends in violence affecting young people, including knife crime. It found that the number of admissions to hospital following a knife-related assault was 9% higher than in 2023/2024.
In Australia, there were more than 2,700 knife-related incidents recorded at Queensland schools between 2019 and 2023, with police chiefs reporting a 21% increase in the number of 10-21-year-olds carrying knives.
Reasons for children and young people carrying weapons
The reasons behind weapon-carrying are complex and multifaceted, meaning that there are no easy solutions. However, by better understanding some of the reasons children and young people carry or use weapons, we can begin to tackle the root causes, consider ways to reduce risk, and work together to keep everyone safe.
1: Peer pressure and social influence
During childhood, but perhaps particularly during adolescence, the influence of friends and peers takes on increased significance. Due to the various physical, emotional, and cognitive changes that take place throughout this period, teenagers often feel a profound need to conform to social norms and ‘fit in’ with their peers.
It is a time of self-discovery and identity formation, with young people trying to work out who they are and where they fit in the world.
In some environments, carrying a weapon might be a way for young people to gain respect from others or to protect their reputation. In some instances, they may be coerced into carrying a weapon by others and may not feel able to refuse.
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