All too frequently tragedies involving children and teenagers who are either victims or perpetrators of violent crimes make headlines across the UK.
In the last month alone, news stories have included a teenager charged with murder after three people were found dead in a flat in Luton, a 14-year-old boy charged with the murder of an elderly man from Leicestershire and three teens that were injured after being shot in Orpington in south-east London.
It is then, perhaps no wonder that assumptions are often made about violent crime among children and teens in Britain.
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.
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.
Access to youth support and mental health services have also been linked to increased criminal involvement in children and teenagers.
Researchers have also made connections between social media use and increased violence in video games, but these tend to be more tenuous and less substantive.
If it is the case that youth violence and crime is on the rise, then serious efforts must be made to prevent further tragedies.
This could include; the provision of extra resources to improve education, increasing diversionary measures such as youth clubs, or a sharper focus on reducing child poverty.
Of course, none of this negates those victims of violent crimes.
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.
“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”
To gain a true understanding of the current levels of crime and violent crime among children and teenagers across England and Wales, Legal Expert set out to investigate.
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How We Conducted Our Research Into Youth Crimes
We sent out Freedom of Information Requests to the 44 police forces in England and Wales asking for the number of crimes involving individuals under the age of 18, either as suspects or victims in the last three years.
We also asked how many of those were violent offences.
Our investigation also sought out the most common criminal offences involving children and teenagers as either victims or suspects in the last year alone.
Legal Expert also sent a Freedom of Information Request to the Youth Justice Board asking for the number of children (under 18) who had received a caution or sentence in the last three years and how many of those pertained to violent crimes.
National data was analysed and collated from the latest Youth Justice Statistics report.
See the results for your local police force below.
Statistics On Youth Crimes In The UK
Avon and Somerset
Avon and Somerset Youth Crime
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 11,956
2022/23 | 12,416
2023/24 | 14,498
Total: 38,870
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 10,608
2022/23 | 11,386
2023/24 | 12,405
Total: 34,399
Crimes involving under 18s in Avon and Somerset by offence type
Youth crime by offence type – Avon and Somerset
Cautions and Convictions of under 18s in Avon and Somerset
Youth Crime Cautions and Convictions – Avon and Somerset
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire Police – Youth Crime Statistics
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,357
2022/23 | 4,627
2023/24 | 5,385
Total: 14,369
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 3,636
2022/23 | 3,536
2023/24 | 3,509
Total: 10,681
Crimes involving under 18s in Bedfordshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Bedfordshire Police
Cambridgeshire Police
Cambridgeshire Youth Crime
No. of offences involving victims under 18s
2021/22 | 4,662
2022/23 | 5,225
2023/24 | 4,811
Total: 14,698
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 3,544
2022/23 | 3,853
2023/24 | 3,538
Total: 10,935
Crimes involving under 18s in Cambridgeshire by offence type
Youth Crime By Offence Type Cambridgeshire
Cautions and Convictions of under 18s in Cambridgeshire
Cautions and Sentences of Under 18s Cambridgeshire
Cleveland Police
Cleveland Police Youth Crime
No. of offences involving under 18s
2021/22 | 10,775
2022/23 | 12,618
2023/24 | 10,842
Total: 34,235
No. of [violent] offences involving under 18s
2021/22 | 7,259
2022/23 | 8,310
2023/24 | 7,242
Total: 22,811
Crimes involving under 18s in Cleveland Policing Area by offence type
Youth Crime By Offence Type Cleveland
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Cleveland Policing Area
Youth Crime Cautions and Convictions – Cleveland Police
Cumbria Constabulary
Youth Crime – Cumbria Constabulary
No. of offences involving under 18 victims
2021/22 | 4,655
2022/23 | 4,801
2023/24 | 4,252
Total: 13,708
No. of offences involving under 18 suspects
2021/22 | 4,553
2022/23 | 4,865
2023/24 | 4,499
Total: 13,917
Crimes involving under 18s in Cumbria by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Cumbria Constabulary
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Cumbria
Youth Crime – Cumbria Cautions and Sentences
Derbyshire Police
Derbyshire Police – Youth Crime Statistics
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,370
2022/23 | 7,765
2023/24 |7,692
Total: 19,499
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,998
2022/23 | 5,253
2023/24 | 5,305
Total: 12,157
Crimes involving under 18s in Derbyshire by offence type
Youth Crime Statistics Derbyshire By Crime Group
Durham Constabulary
Youth Crime – Durham Constabulary
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 5,647
2022/23 | 6,308
2023/24 |6,210
Total: 18,165
No. of offences involving suspects or offenders who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,918
2022/23 | 9,170
2023/24 | 8,501
Total: 25,589
Crimes involving under 18s in Durham by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Durham Constabulary
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Durham
Youth Crime – Durham Cautions and Sentences
Dyfed-Powys Police
Youth Crime – Dyfed-Powys Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,604
2022/23 | 5,517
2023/24 |5,024
Total: 15,145
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 3,630
2022/23 | 4,176
2023/24 | 3,344
Total: 11,150
Crimes involving under 18s in Dyfed-Powys Policing Area by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Dyfed-Powys
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Dyfed-Powys Policing Area
Youth Crime – Dyfed-Powys Cautions and Sentences
Essex Police
Youth Crime – Essex Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 18,006
2022/23 | 18,450
2023/24 |15,946
Total: 52,402
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 15,439
2022/23 | 16,699
2023/24 | 15,390
Total: 47,528
Crimes involving under 18s in Essex by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Essex
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Essex
Youth Crime – Essex Cautions and Sentences
Greater Manchester Police
Youth Crime – Greater Manchester Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 29,355
2022/23 | 33,414
2023/24 |31,195
Total: 93,964
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 29,999
2022/23 | 32,242
2023/24 | 29,362
Total: 91,603
Crimes involving under 18s in Greater Manchester by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Greater Manchester
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Greater Manchester
Gwent Police
Youth Crime – Gwent Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 5,478
2022/23 | 7,044
2023/24 | 6,732
Total: 19,263
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 5,178
2022/23 | 6,315
2023/24 | 6,890
Total: 18,383
Crimes involving under 18s in Gwent by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Gwent
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Gwent
Youth Crime – Gwent Cautions and Sentences
Hertfordshire Police
Youth Crime – Hertfordshire Constabulary.
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,548
2022/23 | 7,007
2023/24 | 6,747
Total: 20,302
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,399
2022/23 | 6,785
2023/24 | 6,962
Total: 20,146
Crimes involving under 18s in Hertfordshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Hertfordshire Constabulary
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Hertfordshire
Youth Crime – Hertfordshire Cautions and Sentences
Humberside Police
Youth Crime – Humberside Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 9,139
2022/23 | 10,572
2023/24 | 10,632
Total: 30,343
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 9,185
2022/23 | 4,476
2023/24 | 5,212
Total: 18,873
Crimes involving under 18s in Humberside by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Humberside Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Humberside
Youth Crime – Humberside Cautions and Sentences
Kent Police
Youth Crime – Kent Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 16,605
2022/23 | 17,374
2023/24 | 15,080
Total: 49,059
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 14,923
2022/23 | 14,802
2023/24 | 13,623
Total: 43,348
Crimes involving under 18s in Kent by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Kent Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Kent
Youth Crime – Kent Cautions and Sentences
Leicestershire Police
Youth Crime – Leicestershire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 9,657
2022/23 | 10,455
2023/24 | 9,670
Total: 29,782
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 8,356
2022/23 | 10,305
2023/24 | 9,791
Total: 28,452
Crimes involving under 18s in Leicestershire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Leicestershire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Leicestershire
Youth Crime – Leicestershire Cautions and Sentences
Lincolnshire Police
Youth Crime – Lincolnshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,032
2022/23 | 6,830
2023/24 | 6,885
Total: 19,747
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,936
2022/23 | 5,342
2023/24 | 5,280
Total: 15,558
Crimes involving under 18s in Lincolnshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Lincolnshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Lincolnshire
Youth Crime – Lincolnshire Cautions and Sentences
Norfolk Constabulary
Youth Crime – Norfolk Constabulary
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 8,530
2022/23 | 9,149
2023/24 | 8,541
Total: 26,220
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 9,846
2022/23 | 11,613
2023/24 | 10,496
Total: 31,955
Crimes involving under 18s in Norfolk by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Norfolk Constabulary
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Norfolk
Youth Crime – Norfolk Cautions and Sentences
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,124
2022/23 | 7,422
2023/24 | 6,187
Total: 20,733
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,149
2022/23 | 6,231
2023/24 | 5,606
Total: 17,986
Crimes involving under 18s in North Wales by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – North Wales Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in North Wales
Youth Crime – North Wales Cautions and Sentences
North Wales Police
Youth Crime – North Wales Police
North Yorkshire Police
Youth Crime – North Yorkshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 5,243
2022/23 | 5,875
2023/24 | 5,324
Total: 16,442
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 967
2022/23 | 865
2023/24 | 720
Total: 2,552
Crimes involving under 18s in North Yorkshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – North Yorkshire
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in North Yorkshire
Youth Crime – North Yorkshire Cautions and Sentences
Northamptonshire
Youth Crime – Northamptonshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,252
2022/23 | 6,420
2023/24 | 5,345
Total: 18,017
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 3,752
2022/23 | 4,280
2023/24 | 4,156
Total: 12,188
Crimes involving under 18s in Northamptonshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Northamptonshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Northamptonshire
Youth Crime – Northamptonshire Cautions and Sentences
Northumbria Police
Youth Crime – Northumbria Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 11,409
2022/23 | 12,833
2023/24 | 11,805
Total: 36,047
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 10,120
2022/23 | 12,098
2023/24 | 11,573
Total: 33,791
Crimes involving under 18s in Northumbria by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Northumbria Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Northumbria
Youth Crime – Northumbria Cautions and Sentences
Nottinghamshire
Youth Crime – Nottinghamshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 8,940
2022/23 | 9,533
2023/24 | 9,170
Total: 27,580
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,484
2022/23 | 8,272
2023/24 | 8,014
Total: 23,770
Crimes involving under 18s in Nottinghamshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Nottinghamshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Nottinghamshire
Youth Crime – Nottinghamshire Cautions and Sentences
South Yorkshire Police
Youth Crime – South Yorkshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 13,677
2022/23 | 14,343
2023/24 | 12,853
Total: 40,873
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 12,699
2022/23 | 14,971
2023/24 | 13,551
Total: 41,221
Crimes involving under 18s in South Yorkshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – South Yorkshire Police
Youth Crime – South Yorkshire Cautions and Sentences
Staffordshire Police
Youth Crime – Staffordshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 6,966
2022/23 | 9,100
2023/24 | 7,769
Total: 23,835
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,828
2022/23 | 6,304
2023/24 | 6,889
Total: 18,021
Crimes involving under 18s in Staffordshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Staffordshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Staffordshire
Youth Crime – Staffordshire Cautions and Sentences
Suffolk Constabulary
Youth Crime – Suffolk Constabulary
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,352
2022/23 | 8,667
2023/24 | 7,482
Total: 23,501
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 7,319
2022/23 | 8,448
2023/24 | 7,727
Total: 23,494
Crimes involving under 18s in Suffolk by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Suffolk Constabulary
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Suffolk
Youth Crime – Suffolk Cautions and Sentences
Sussex Police
Sussex Police – Youth Crime Statistics
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 10,582
2022/23 | 11,950
2023/24 |12,382
Total: 34,914
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 8,411
2022/23 | 9,961
2023/24 | 10,961
Total: 29,333
Crimes involving under 18s in Sussex by offence type
Youth Crime Statistics Sussex By Crime Group
Warwickshire Police
Youth Crime – Warwickshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,842
2022/23 | 4,952
2023/24 | 4,901
Total: 14,695
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,254
2022/23 | 4,341
2023/24 | 4,644
Total: 13,239
Crimes involving under 18s in Warwickshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Warwickshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Warwickshire
Youth Crime – Warwickshire Cautions and Sentences
West Mercia Police
Youth Crime – West Mercia Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 10,035
2022/23 | 11,058
2023/24 | 9,350
Total: 30,443
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 9,155
2022/23 | 10,011
2023/24 | 8,883
Total: 28,049
Crimes involving under 18s in West Mercia by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – West Mercia Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in West Mercia
Youth Crime – West Mercia Cautions and Sentences
West Yorkshire
Youth Crime – West Yorkshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 31,295
2022/23 | 35,725
2023/24 | 33,016
Total: 100,036
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 29,246
2022/23 | 32,484
2023/24 | 29,422
Total: 91,152
Crimes involving under 18s in West Yorkshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – West Yorkshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in West Yorkshire
Youth Crime – West Yorkshire Cautions and Sentences
Wiltshire Police
Youth Crime – Wiltshire Police
No. of offences involving victims who are under 18
2021/22 | 4,727
2022/23 | 5,665
2023/24 | 5,006
Total: 15,398
No. of offences involving suspects who are under 18
2021/22 | 5,098
2022/23 | 6,136
2023/24 | 5,071
Total: 16,305
Crimes involving under 18s in Wiltshire by offence type
Youth Crime Offences – Wiltshire Police
Cautions and Sentences for under 18s in Wiltshire
Youth Crime – Wiltshire Cautions and Sentences
