Our Research Into Youth Crimes In The UK

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.

How Legal Expert Can Help

Here at Legal Expert, we have a team of specialist criminal injury solicitors. They can help with all types of cases, such as those involving assaults and grievous bodily harm. If you’d like to speak with us now and in confidence, we offer a free telephone line and live chat service.

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