Knife crime 'blighting lives of too many children', says report

Serious youth violence in England is widespread and not restricted to particular ethnic or demographic groups, according to investigators who were told that children as young as 11 were carrying knives for protection.

- Richard Adams

The report by school, police and probation inspectors found youth violence could be reduced by careful early intervention but warned the dangers children faced were more far-reaching than many adults realised.

The report includes harrowing accounts of children and families affected by serious youth violence as well as the links between the rise in violence and harmful exploitation of children used in "county lines" drugs running by criminal gangs.

Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, said that "urgent action is needed now" to keep children safe.

"Knife crime is blighting the lives of too many children in England. It's a national scandal. It's very disturbing that children as young as 11 feel they need to carry a knife for their own protection.