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1 in 3 teens surveyed for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London know a knife crime victim
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A poll conducted on behalf of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London suggests that a third of young people interviewed in the capital know someone who has been a victim of knife crime.
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The findings of the poll, carried out on behalf of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ by survey company Com Res, will be discussed in depth from 9am today (Monday 26 November) on the Vanessa Feltz Show on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London 94.9 and on a special edition of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London's nightly news programme on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One.
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Five hundred 13 to 18-year-olds across five London boroughs – Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Lambeth and Southwark – took part in the poll, which also suggests that nearly a fifth of teenagers interviewed know someone who has been a victim of gun crime or has been pressured to join a gang (17% and 18% respectively).
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Twenty-six per cent of the young people interviewed said they have no faith in the police's ability to deal with gun and knife crime – and only just over a half (57%) said that they would always report a gun or knife crime they witnessed.
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Of those who would not definitely report it, most (52%) cited fear of retaliation for their reticence. As one teenager put it simply: "Because, if the person finds out it was you, then they might stab you."
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Another said: "I'd probably, like, be scared in case anyone from the gang whatever comes after me and puts me and my family in danger."
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Other comments from those who would not report gun or knife crime included:
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"Once you open your mouth then everyone will say you are a snake and no one will trust you."
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"I would love to tell them but sometimes the police have no evidence..."
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"The police won't do nothing about it, they just sit there filling up forms."
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The survey also revealed that many teenagers are not optimistic about the future either – 74% of 13 to 18-year-olds think violent crime will go up in the next year, despite the fact that 71% also expect police numbers to rise over the same period.
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For more information on the survey and to hear further discussions about teenagers and violence in the capital tune in to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London 94.9 FM, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ London TV or log on to bbc.co.uk/london on Monday 26 November.
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