Prime Minister Keir Starmer Calls It a “National Crisis”
Britain is grappling with a dangerous rise in teenage knife crime, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer has labeled a “national crisis.” The crisis has led to the loss of young lives, often at the hands of others of the same age, in an increasingly violent knife culture.
Rhys, who was recruited by a drug gang at the age of eight, recounted the loss of friends due to violence, including one who was fatally stabbed in his arms. A decade ago, after witnessing his best friend’s death from a stabbing, Rhys decided to change his life and now works to educate children about the dangers of knives, drugs, and gangs.
Knife crime has been steadily rising in England and Wales since 2011, with 50,973 offences reported in the year ending June 2024, a 41% increase compared to 2011. Tragically, many of the victims are teenagers, including 15-year-old Elianne Andam, who was murdered by her friend’s ex-boyfriend over a teddy bear dispute.
The government has imposed a ban on “zombie” knives, but criminologist James Alexander notes that children killing children has become the “new normal.” He explains that young people in deprived housing estates feel forced to carry knives for self-defense, as community ties weaken and drug gangs expand.
The rise in knife crime has left many innocent young people caught up in the violence, with more cases of mistaken identity, trivial conflicts, and criminal activities leading to fatal outcomes.
