A new investigation has revealed that 60% of all youth crime in Essex involves violence.
Figures obtained by Legal Expert via Freedom of Information Requests show a “shocking and concerning” level of increased violent crime among children and teenagers across England and Wales.
In the last three years, Essex Police has recorded 52,400 criminal offences involving victims who were under 18 and 47,500 had suspects between the ages of 0-17.
Of those, violent crimes made up 66% of all offences with a victim under 18 and 52% of all offences with a suspect under 18.
Legal Expert Solicitor Jane Davies said: “The rise in crime, especially violent crime involving young people is shocking and concerning.
“Whether they are victims or suspects, more must be done to combat further increases and to prevent any more tragedies from happening.”
Police figures show that in the last three years, ‘Violence With Injury’ and ‘Violence Without Injury’ were by far the most common offences involving young people in Essex.
In the last year alone (between April 2023-April 2024) 7,894 such offences were recorded as having a suspect under 18 and 10,526 with an under 18 victim.
‘Violence With/Without Injury’ is a broad term police use to record a range of offences that can include minor crimes such as harassment and common assault, to serious offences such as battery, murder and wounding (or grievous bodily harm).
Worryingly, Essex Police data also reveals that the second most common offence with under 18 victims was Sexual Offences, of which there were 1,654 crimes recorded in the last year.
Criminal Damage was the third most common offence involving children and teen suspects, of which there were 1,419 crimes in just a 12-month period.
Public Order Offences, Shoplifting, Rape and RObbery were also among the top offences involving 0-17 year olds in Essex.
Legal Expert also obtained figures from the Youth Justice Board which reveals that the number of cautions and sentences given to children and teens in Essex is now at a three-year high, with 63% pertaining to violent crimes.
In 2020/21, 458 cautions and convictions were issued to under 18s, decreasing to 383 the following year. This year, the figure has hiked again to 492.
Cautions and sentences relating to violent crimes including Violence Against The Person, Robbery or Sexual Offences have soared by 20% from 270 in 2020/21 to 323 in 2022/23.
Across England and Wales, the number of arrests of children for notifiable offences increased by 9% in 2022/23.
It is the second year in a row of an increase, according to the latest figures from the Youth Justice Statistics.
Data also shows that in the last 10 years, ‘Violence Against The Person’ saw the biggest increase out of all other crimes involving under 18s, rising by 12.4% since 2013 across England and Wales.
Knife crime and violence has also increased across England and Wales over the past decade notably in London where the Metropolitan Police Service saw a 21% increase in knife or sharp instrument incidents between 2022 and 2023.
A landmark report by government advisers last year revealed that half of all teenagers witnessed or were victims of violence in England and Wales in 2022/23.
The survey, conducted by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) was the largest of its kind looking into what drives knife crime, bullying and gang rivalries and found “shocking and unacceptable” levels of youth violence.
It also confirmed the link between poverty and youth violence, reporting that a third of teenagers in families who rely on food banks were found to be victims of violence.
In 2022/23, the rate of child poverty stood at an alarming 33%, according to figures by The Health Foundation.
Access to youth support and mental health services has also been linked to increased criminal involvement in children and teenagers.
Legal Expert Solicitor Jane Davies added: “Young people who commit crimes can see their lives change forever once they enter the criminal justice system and moreover for victims of violence and their families, it can take a lifetime to rebuild and heal.
“Both circumstances are avoidable but until the powers that be make real change, we are here to ensure that justice is carried out and victims are supported legally so that they can rebuild their lives”
