There has been a five per cent surge in knife crime in the UK, with 46,367 incidents involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded in the previous year. In Brighton itself, the prevalence of knife crime is a worrying issue. It looms as a possible occurrence that could happen to any student on a night out.
The majority of knife crimes committed in Sussex between November 2020 and November 2023 happened in the centre of Brighton, with over 400 to be more exact, reported by The Argus. From this, some horrendous cases have transpired. In March, a 16-year-old boy was found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Mustafa Momand. Momand passed away from a single stab wound in October 2023 after being stabbed at the junction of Queens Road and Gloucester Road. He collapsed shortly after outside the Ibis Hotel near Brighton station.
Statistically, the risk of being involved in a knife crime – as the victim or perpetrator – is significantly higher for juveniles (10-17 years) and young adults – males in particular.
So, why is knife crime so prevalent and what draws this demographic to it?
The College of Policing UK released a report detailing what is believed to be the motivators for carrying a knife, as well as the risk factors associated with knife crime. The three key motivators – firstly, for self-protection and out of fear. Secondly, for self-preservation reasons, such as seeking ‘street credibility’. Thirdly, for utility purposes – to facilitate other crimes such as theft or to inflict serious harm upon someone.
The risk factors involve adverse childhood experiences and low school attainment, including school exclusion. The report also cited being around the age of 15 (peak weapon carrying age) and a male is the riskiest demographic.
One in eight children under the age of 16 in Brighton live in poverty.
Knife crime occurs most commonly in cities in the UK, for instance in London, where the Metropolitan Police recorded 29% of knife crime offences in England and Wales last year. This may explain the prevalence of knife crime in Brighton – an ever-growing major city in the South-East which is only an hour or so from London.
It’s easy to see how knife carrying comes about for young men, especially in the cities and surrounding areas in this country. Many children who grow up in cities in the UK live below the poverty line, something that has been particularly exacerbated in the wake of the pandemic and the rising cost of living – one in eight children under the age of 16 in Brighton live in poverty, and in London, around 33% of children do. As a result of living in poverty, many children in these areas are at a higher risk of being exposed to other issues in the home such as domestic violence.
When taking into account the adverse homelife of many young men which can lead them to spend large amounts of time out of home and on the streets, and expose them to the three motivators of weapon carrying – self-protection, self-preservation and utility, a high rate of knife crime amongst this demographic is almost understandable.
In order to save the lives of young men on our streets, government and local councils need to tackle the core issues that make young men and even women susceptible to knife crime – like child poverty.
