Of 80 homicide victims in the capital in 2023, 16 were teenagers and many of the perpetrators have been as young as 14. Elianne Andam was just 15-years-old when she was stabbed to death in Croydon in September; a murder Sir Mark Rowley referred to as "senseless".
Leroy Logan, a former police officer and founder of Voyage Youth, explains that when it comes to crime, the motivation for young people is the desperate need to be accepted - they are simply seeking something to call a "home".
If they live in a chaotic community with a prevalence of crime this leads to an obvious path for young people to be groomed for gang membership giving them a sense of belonging. Leroy says "their family" is the "street family" - and that family breeds urban soldiers "so this is warfare."
The BigKid foundation provides a safe space for young people at risk of social exclusion and youth violence in Lambeth. Dellali Defor, the programme manager said: "We all thrive off companionship and when we don’t get that in a healthy space, we look for that community elsewhere."
Young people are looking to gangs for that community environment. Mr Logan explains that many young people look up to gang members and see them making money from committing crime and selling drugs. There is also the influence from drill music which is encouraging young people to aspire to be part of the "thug-life" more than going to school.
They don’t care if they live or die and they don’t care if anyone else lives or dies.
The former police officer says the way to turn things around is to focus on the importance of a stable environment so that these young people have aspirations and hope to achieve their true potential.
One of the places trying inspire young people is Oasis which has set up over 54 schools across the UK. Steve Chalke, the founder of Oasis says education is the biggest factor that determines one's life opportunities. Oasis Academy Hadley welcomes children from disadvantaged backgrounds and provides a safe environment for them to flourish. It opens its doors early in the morning to late in the evening and focuses on "wrap-around support." Consequently, the school sees great outcomes and many of its students go onto top Russell group universities.
Headmistress Zoe Thompson stresses the importance of showing young people their prospects.
"There is a real lack of services and support for young people and families early on that ultimately results in children first of all being groomed, which is rife."
Children don’t just wake up in morning and say 'oh you know what I’m going to carry a boat knife and hurt someone', that doesn’t happen.
The Oasis schools encourage their students to speak openly about their personal problems. Layla a talented 16 year old, hoping to pursue her dream of becoming a singer says "everyone around here is like my family, we are very connected, they help me out with personal problems, with school problems, with every time of problem".
Oasis is a good example of intervention and support for the youth, however Logan explains more must be done.
"If people think policing is the cure, they are fooling themselves. You can't arrest your way out of this problem, you can’t stop and search your way out of the problem, you have to work with the target group."
The former police officer emphasises the importance for early intervention programmes and using local police officers who understand the culture and the background of these young people.
It's clear that youth crime is of great concern in the capital but with effective intervention, initiatives such as Oasis believe there will be hope for the next generation.
