In today’s society, many different types of crimes are being committed.
The most common offences committed by young people in the UK that do not fall into the summary (aka petty) offences category are possession of weapons and violence against another person. Youth violence is extremely worrying, as it involves the jeopardising of the safety and health of young individuals. Young people believe violence is a form of currency. Committing violence against someone else is seen as a way to gain status. Young people hold the same view towards causing harm to others as they do toward earning money because they can see the rewards, envy the power it brings the perpetrator, and almost taste the success. This is alarming because the more young people feel this way, the more dangerous and unsafe the streets of London become. A significant amount of violence occurs in our streets, and without the appropriate tools, it will only persist.
Drug-related offences are also very common due to the potential monetary gains. Various blogs, news articles, films, and TV shows portray that selling drugs is the only way out of poverty. Without realising it, this content is gradually programming the idea into young people’s minds that selling drugs is the starting point to escaping hardship. A similar effect happens when listening to rap music. Rappers often mention that there was a stage in their lives where they had to resort to selling drugs. The moment young people feel a need for cash or believe they are in poverty, they might turn to selling drugs because this concept has been instilled in them through the media they watch and the music they listen to. Every young person has their reasons for committing a drug offence, whether that’s buying, selling, or using drugs – it’s still an offence. There’s also a variety of drugs involved. The illegal drug market in the UK is estimated to be worth £9.4 billion.
These issues are spreading like a disease and require patience and repeated efforts to tackle. Instilling fear in young people at a young age is key, achieved through education and by making the consequences of crime visible. By highlighting the issues faced by the youth and showing the lasting effects of crime, Khadys Dream helps young people make better decisions for the future.
Source: Youth Justice Statistics: 2022 to 2023 (accessible version), Published 25 January 2024 by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales