Eruption of violence forecast

Youth charities are warning of an eruption of youth violence over the summer as lockdown restrictions end and pent up frustration and mental health problems come to the fore.

Many youth charities are suffering from the general reduction in giving that has been experienced during the pandemic when traditional fund raising activities have either been curtailed of abandoned. They claim not to have the funds required to meet the anticipated problems expected to be similar to the surge in violence when lockdown was lifted in 2020.

A spokesperson for Youth UK suggested that many young people may have been exploited by gangs because they were isolated and vulnerable during the pandemic. Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police Service says that London is on track for the worst year of teenage murders for over a decade with more than 20 young people killed since the start of 2021.