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Beyond the Headlines

Published -
July 25, 2024

Purpose and background

In this report, we aim to simplify the complexity surrounding violence affecting children and young people in England and Wales. Our goal is to provide a clear account of whether the situation is improving or worsening, and to evaluate the performance of key sectors supporting these children and young people. To achieve this, we’ve selected 11 core indicators (see dashboard below) to track over time. These include:

  • three primary measures of violence,
  • a measure of racial disproportionality in the youth justice system,
  • six measures related to our sectors of interest, and a measure of child poverty.
  • Additionally, we’ve examined a range of other data to provide context and delve into the details behind the main figures.

Core indicators dashboard

Click on each indicator for more detail behind the headline figures.


Children affected by violence

  • Homicides

    16–24-year-old homicide victims (England and Wales)

    Latest value
    99
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -19%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -30%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    14%
  • Knife crime

    Hospital admissions for knife assault (0-17-year-olds)

    Latest value
    467
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -2%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -16%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    47%
  • Justice system involvement

    Proven violent offences committed by children

    Latest value
    14,298
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    improving
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -2%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -31%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    -46%
  • Disproportionality

    Proportion of children in custody who are Black

    Latest value
    26%
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -2%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -2.2%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    4%

Sectors & Society

  • Policing

    Recorded crimes that were successfully investigated crimes

    Latest value
    9%
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    worsening
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -0.1%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -1.6%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    -16.1%
  • Youth justice

    Children’s reoffending rate

    Latest value
    32%
    Latest Year
    March 2022
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2020/21)
    0.9%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    -2.0%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    -8.9%
  • Neighbourhoods

    No suitable measure

    Latest value
    N/A
    Latest Year
    July 2024
    Indicator performance
    na
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    N/A
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    N/A
    10 years before (2012/13)
    N/A
  • Education

    Children persistently absent from school

    Latest value
    21%
    Latest Year
    July 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    -1.3%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    10%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    7.6%
  • Health

    Child referrals to mental health services

    Latest value
    1,103,495
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    worsening
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    11%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    44%
    10 years before (2016/17*)
    98%
  • Children’s services

    Looked after children

    Latest value
    83,840
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    worsening
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    2%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    5%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    23%
  • Youth sector

    Local authority expenditure for youth services

    Latest value
    £448m
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    3%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    8%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    -56%
  • Poverty

    Children in households in absolute poverty

    Latest value
    25%
    Latest Year
    March 2023
    Indicator performance
    mixed
    change compared to
    previous year (2021/22)
    2.2%
    pre-covid (2019/20)
    0.2%
    10 years before (2012/13)
    -3.8%