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The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Banning us from social media is ‘neither practical nor effective', UK teenagers say
Banning teenagers from social media is neither a 'practical nor effective' solution to the growing problem of youth violence, young people from across the UK have told MPs. Although Australia has implemented a social media ban for under-16s, a better solution would be to strengthen regulation deterring social media companies from promoting violent and age-inappropriate content, the youth select committee of the UK youth parliament concluded in its report examining the links between social media and youth violence. The report stated that this was because there were benefits to being online, such as learning about the world and forming connections, and because an age ban would be too easy to circumvent. Wania Eshaal Ahmad, the chair of the youth select committee, said: 'The inquiry has made one thing clear: that social media companies should do more to protect young people from violent and harmful content. 'The committee believes that a social media ban, like in Australia, is neither practical nor effective. Instead, tech companies must be held accountable.' The committee's membership is made up of 14- to 19-year-olds, who examined written evidence from teens across the UK as well as from experts. They urged the government to involve young people in policymaking that affects them at every stage of its development, and specifically those from marginalised and under-represented groups. Asking for the introduction of a youth advisory panel on Ofcom, they noted: 'We have heard little evidence that Ofcom has engaged with young people on online safety.' They recommended that the government create a consumer-facing online safety standards rating, which would evaluate platforms on their safety measures, responsiveness to harmful content, and efforts to educate users. This would serve as a scorecard giving users accessible information about how safe an online space is. The committee members added: 'We are not persuaded that the Online Safety Act is robust enough to enforce minimum age limits on social media platforms and ensure children and young people will be protected from harmful content.' They suggested that Ofcom should report annually to parliament on whether the act was proving effective in holding tech companies accountable for providing safe online spaces. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The report cited a 2024 survey from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) of 10,000 young people aged between 13 and 17, which found that 70% had encountered some form of violence on social media in the past 12 months, though only 6% had been actively searching for it. The most common form of violence viewed online was fights involving young people, reported by over half of 13- to 17-year-olds. The same survey found that one in five children had been a victim of some sort of violence in the past year, while 16% had perpetrated violence themselves. The report also cited research from the children's commissioner for England noting that exposure to online violence 'can desensitise them to violence, normalise aggressive behaviour and, in some instances, lead to retaliatory violence', and suggested that the government should commission research to establish whether there is a causal link, which would feed into the Online Safety Act. The role of toxic influencers was also cited, including comments from the YEF that 'influencers' presentation of crime as a lucrative career option can seem enticing' to young people in 'challenging socioeconomic conditions with concerns about their future opportunities'. The report asked the government to work with social media companies to address the harmful content spread by influencers, and to ensure it is not rewarded financially. On Wednesday, the head of Ofsted added his voice to calls for headteachers to ban smartphones in schools in England. Martyn Oliver, who is chief inspector of the schools watchdog, said heads already had the necessary powers and Ofsted would back those who make the tough decision to ban phones. In a Q&A with parents, he said children's developing brains should not be 'bombarded by non-human algorithms that might be preying upon them', adding: 'It's harmful and it's damaging, so I do believe they should be banned. Ofsted will support schools in banning phones.' Oliver, who led a large multi-academy trust before taking on the top job at Ofsted, said he had walked into schools in special measures that were in utter chaos, with mobile phone use rife. 'And within those schools, within days of banning phones, and as hard as that is initially, you get an immediate sense of calmness across the school.' The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has asked officials to look into how to monitor more effectively the use of smartphones in schools in England. She told a gathering of headteachers: 'The government's position is clear: you have our full backing in ridding our classrooms of the disruption of phones.' A government spokesperson said: 'We are making our streets and online spaces safer for children through delivering our plan for change. Last week, the key provisions of the Online Safety Act came into effect so that online services are required to take action to protect children from illegal content and criminal activity occurring on their platforms. 'This is just the beginning, and in summer additional protection will prevent children from encountering harmful material like pornography and violent and abusive content.'
Telegraph
14-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Giving children summer jobs cuts violent crime by a third, research finds
Giving children summer jobs reduces violent crime by more than a third, research by a government-funded charity has found. The study by the Youth Endowment Fund (Yef) found targeted summer jobs reduced violence by 36 per cent by diverting or distracting children who might have otherwise fallen into crime. Overall, crime was cut by 17 per cent as a result of the employment schemes. The research, based on 68 studies evaluating summer job programmes, showed they continued to have an effect even after children finished their jobs, with a reduction in violence-related arrests of 9 per cent over three years. Even five years after their jobs, there was still a 4 per cent reduction in arrests or convictions. The children were also more likely to attend and complete higher education, although there were small increases in arrests or convictions for drug and property-related offences. About 1,500 work placements The study has formed the basis for a government-backed expansion of US-style summer jobs programmes, which will offer children and young people up to the age of 20 about 1,500 work placements in England and Wales. It will expand in summer 2025 to include South Wales, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Sheffield and Doncaster. In 2024, 428 young people from Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and London participated with support from employers including Timpson, the shoe repair and key-cutting company founded by the family of Lord Timpson, the prison minister, Burger King and Veolia. The scheme was backed by £1.5 million in government funds. The average cost of summer employment programmes per participant is £4,250, and of this the average salary to the young person is around £2,000. Jon Yates, the chief executive of the Yef, said: 'Young people need opportunities, and summer employment programmes provide just that. They offer an important first step on the career ladder, add valuable experience to CVs and put money in young people's pockets. 'While the evidence is limited, programmes in the US appear to be highly effective at reducing violence over the summer months. We want to find out if such programmes can make the same positive difference here.'
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Idris Elba proposes dulling kitchen knives to curb stabbing deaths
Actor Idris Elba has suggested more action can be taken to make kitchen knives safer to reduce stabbings across the country. The 52-year-old was speaking ahead of the release on Wednesday of Idris Elba: A Year Of Knife Crime, a documentary which sees the Luther star spend 12 months exploring the reality of the UK's knife crime crisis. Mr Elba claimed that around 25 per cent of stabbings are perpetrated using knives commonly found at home, and 'areas of innovation' could help reduce this. "Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say," he told BBC Radio 4. "But you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it." There were more 50,000 serious knife crime offences recorded in England in the year ending June 2024. London has the highest rate of serious knife crimes. Between April 2023 and April 2024, 509 children under the age of 17 were hospitalised for injuries from knives and other sharp items, according to the Youth Endowment Fund. The number of offences classed as 'possession of an article with a blade or point' stood at 27,553 offences in the 12 months to June 2024, down 4% year on year from 28,582. "I've got three kids," Mr Elba said. "As a parent, that's always going through your mind." In September 2024, it became illegal to own, sell or manufacture zombie knives and machetes in the UK. However, many illegal weapons remain on UK streets and have been used in recent violent crimes. In the BBC film, Mr Elba said young people in London gangs are 'not big and scary', adding it is 'sad' that society has 'turned our back on them'. The actor and activist spoke about 'someone very close to me' who had gone into a gang at the same time that he went into acting. He said he had spoken to him about the documentary. The Hackney-born star said he had told him 'you're doing the right thing' but that he 'isn't as hopeful or optimistic as I am'. Elba went on to say that he felt big tech and social media needed to take more responsibility over the issue. He added: 'When it comes to big tech, there needs to be accountability within their own policies, and their policies need to be educated and driven by what society deems is right or wrong. 'It's great that you're a big company, you make a lot of money, got lots of social media followers, that's fantastic. 'But by the way, we don't like knives, we're not going to tolerate you advertising knives to young people, please. 'We don't like porn, we don't like this, we don't like bully dogs, it can be done in a society, and in my opinion, where democracy leads, it takes a village.' The BBC film sees Elba meet prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said that his party would commit to halving knife crime if elected, and the King, where the pair discussed solutions to the problem with some of the young people most affected by youth violence. The hour-long programme will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 29 January at 9pm.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Watch: Idris Elba backs blunt kitchen knives to stop knife crime
Credit: X/@BBCr4today Idris Elba has called for kitchen knives to have their ends rounded off to protect victims of the UK's violent gang crisis. Speaking ahead of the release of his documentary on knife crime that will air on Wednesday evening, the 52-year-old actor said there needed to be 'innovative' solutions amid a surge in knife crime that has pushed it back to near-record levels. The Luther star said that while the Government's ban on the sale of zombie knives was a positive step in tackling the issue, he also believed ninja swords should be outlawed and suggested kitchen blades have their sharp point removed. 'I do think there are areas of innovation that we can do. Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say. But you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it,' he said. 'In a country in crisis, yes, let's look at that.' Britain's knife crime crisis has seen a total of 507 children treated in English hospitals for knife injuries in the 12 months to April 2024, according to the latest figures analysed by the Youth Endowment Fund. The number of knife crimes reported by police forces across England and Wales passed 50,000 in the year to June 2024, for only the second time since records began. In London, they hit a record high of 15,859, up 16 per cent on 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics. A ban on the sale of pointed kitchen knives has been backed by the Church of England, judges, top trauma doctors and psychiatrists, the police and victims as they argue that it would make life-threatening injuries far less likely. It follows a five-year study in Edinburgh which found that 94 per cent of the sharp instruments used in homicides were kitchen knives. Axel Rudakubana, the Southport triple killer, used a kitchen knife he bought via Amazon for his murderous attack last July. Campaigners say sharp knife points were only used historically to pick up food because forks had not been invented and it was a time when they could be carried openly. Sharp points remain only as an anachronistic hangover from 18th century Britain during which forks became commonplace. Elba's new documentary sees the British actor spend 12 months exploring the reality of the UK's knife crime crisis. During the programme, he met with victims' families, police officers and teenage offenders for a deep dive into the problem. In an effort to tackle the issue, a ban on zombie knives and machetes came into place in England and Wales in September, making it an imprisonable offence to possess, sell, manufacture or transport them. Elba said it was 'massive step in the right direction', but believed schools could intervene in young people's lives earlier to stop them 'going towards a dark place'. The actor highlighted disciplinary action like school exclusions as an opportunity for teachers to pay more attention to children in their pre and early teens. Elba said: 'The big thing that I learned in the room [when he visited Feltham Young Offender Institution for the show] is that they're not big and scary in the way that it's portrayed; gangs, balaclavas, black jackets. 'These were people, young people, still grasping on to their development, it was sad. It just felt like they were just banged up behind there, and no-one cares. 'Of course, they're being looked after there, but it did feel like, 'oh, wow, we just turned our back on them', because we're expecting them to come out of there loved and ready to get back into society. It was really educational for me, and sad.' Elba backed moves by the Government to crackdown on knife sales. Last weekend ministers announced new measures including a ban on doorstep sales and two-step age verification for online purchases – to prevent under 18s buying knives online. The actor said tech companies and social media needed to take more responsibility over the issue: 'When it comes to big tech, there needs to be accountability within their own policies, and their policies need to be educated and driven by what society deems is right or wrong. 'It's great that you're a big company, you make a lot of money, got lots of social media followers, that's fantastic. But by the way, we don't like knives, we're not going to tolerate you advertising knives to young people, please. 'We don't like porn, we don't like this, we don't like bully dogs, it can be done in a society, and in my opinion, where democracy leads, it takes a village.' Ministers are planning new laws to fine tech executives up to £10,000 if they fail to remove content promoting, advertising or allowing the sale of banned knives. Elba said there were 'indicators of hope' already in the fight against knife crime and praised the under-the-radar intervention schemes that were 'really working'. The BBC film, Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, sees Elba meet Sir Keir Starmer, before becoming prime minister, who said that his party would commit to halving knife crime if elected.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zombie knife ban won't solve crisis - but there is hope, says Idris Elba
Banning the sale of zombie knives is a positive step, but schools need to intervene earlier to help tackle the UK's knife crime crisis, says Idris Elba. The actor, 52, has spent the last year making a documentary for the BBC about solutions to knife crime, during which he met victims' families, police officers and teenage offenders. In addition to early intervention, he told the BBC that ninja swords should be banned and even suggested domestic knives could be made less dangerous. "Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say," he adds, "but you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it." A total of 507 children were treated in English hospitals for knife injuries in the 12 months to April 2024, according to the latest figures analysed by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF). "I've got three kids," says Elba. "As a parent, that's always going through your mind." In the documentary, called Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, the Hollywood star meets a 17-year-old boy at Feltham young offender institution who first began carrying a blade when he was 13. He grew up in a violent home and had been badly bullied at school for having dandruff. "I looked around and saw that the only people who ain't getting bullied are the people who are this certain way," the teenager tells Elba, "so I felt the need to become that person." 'Progress is being made to stop youth knife crime' Starmer pledges knife crime action after No 10 summit Youth have knife crime solutions - Idris Elba Asked by Elba how that made him feel, the boy says: "When I had a knife I felt like I could do anything, like I was a god – nobody could touch me. "It makes you the bad man in the situation. Then push comes to shove and you end up using it." He stabbed someone and was a couple of months into his sentence for grievous bodily harm when Elba met him. The figures from the YEF, a charity that uses government funding to help prevent children becoming involved in violence, show that knife crime remains a persistent problem for young people. Elba says that, while the ban on zombie knives implemented last September was "a massive step in the right direction", the country is still in a crisis. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last week, following the sentencing of the teenager who murdered three young girls in Southport, that the government would bring in tougher checks for people trying to buy knives online. Elba believes more attention needs to be paid to children in their pre and early teens, with disciplinary action like school exclusions, used as an opportunity to intervene in a young person's life. "When a young child is excluded, they're more likely to go towards a dark place," he says, but adds: "There are indicators of hope. There are intervention schemes that are really working and that no-one really knows about." Jayden, 16, is a beneficiary. He started carrying a knife when he was 12 after a group of 20 boys started on him in a park in Coventry. One swung an axe at him. "Ever since then I didn't step outside without a knife," he tells the documentary. "You're going to be scared after that, aren't you?… You're going to want to protect yourself some way and that was the only way I could think of." He was eventually referred to the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (Cirv), which is operated by West Midlands Police. They identify teenagers who might commit or become a victim of knife crime and intervene before a stabbing takes place. They then find education and career opportunities that suit each individual. They sought out Jayden as there were concerns of him being involved in gang activities and carrying a knife. He had been excluded from school several times and kicked out of his family home. He was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Through Cirv, Jayden joined a football academy and now aspires to be a coach. He has stopped carrying a knife but says the dangers remain. "It is still quite normal where I'm from to see someone carrying a blade on them," he says. "I nearly got two pulled out on me this week." He paid tribute to PC Laura Cuthbertson who has mentored him as part of Cirv, though the funding for the scheme runs out in six months. According to the Ministry of Justice, inmates with the highest rate of reoffending are aged 10-17. The scheme costs £1,500 per child each year and Elba wants more funding for initiatives like this - that intervene in a child's life before they commit a crime. "There needs to be a very radical look at where we spend our money," he says. "How we spend our money, what are the effective solutions versus the ones that we're wasting a lot of money on that aren't effective." Jayden tells Elba when he first joined Cirv he had no confidence in himself and was scared. "I value life a lot more now," he says. "There's some beauty in the world for me, that wasn't there before." Diana Johnson, minister for policing, fire and crime prevention, says the government has already banned zombie knives and it was progressing with a ban on "ninja swords". "In the longer term, we need to ensure that the right prevention systems are in place to stop crime in its tracks." Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis From the streets to the system, Idris uncovers how we can break the cycle. Watch now on BBC iPlayer or on Wednesday, 29 January at 21:00 GMT on BBC One. 'If mine is bigger, I'm going to win': Getting zombie knives off the streets Zombie knives still for sale online despite ban, BBC finds
