Page 7 - Down Tools A5 Flipbook

-Knife crime is mainly in poor, inner-city areas.
Poverty and lack of hope.
Knife crime mainly occurs in the poorest, most run-down parts of cities. Although most young people in these areas manage to overcome the difficulties in their lives, some are unable to
do so.
These young people may feel that no one cares about them and not care much about anyone else, including themselves. Their friends, or a gang, may seem like their only security. Their strong feelings of anger, fear resentment and hopelessness may mean they feel that violence and carrying a knife is normal. Other young people then become scared of them and start to carry knives themselves.
But most young people in these areas find
a way to feel OK about themselves and their future, despite the difficulties they face. No matter where you live, try to stay aware and positive. You don’t have to become a victim
of your circumstances, And have a look at the suggestions we have made about good ways of dealing with anger on page 15 of this booklet.
Who uses knives?
Statistics show that it is mainly young men living in poor areas.
They are also more likely to be the victims of knife crime.
It involves White, Black and Asian young people. It’s mainly to do with poverty, not race or colour.
A few young women carry knives and threaten people with them. Some have also helped men to stab other people. And young women have been stabbed, including by boyfriends.
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