Children, violence and vulnerability 2024

REPORT 1
Who is affected by violence?

A worrying minority of children continue to have direct experiences of violence.

20%

of teenage children have been a victim of violence.

In this year’s survey, 20% of teenage children told us they’ve been a victim of violence in the past 12 months. Over half (61%) of these incidents led to physical injury, equating to 440,000 children in England and Wales.

For some, these experiences are not one-off. Of all teenagers who were victims of violence, 65% had it happen multiple times within the year, with nearly a third (31%) — or 5% of all 13-17-year-olds — reporting it occurred more than five times.

Common forms of violence

Physical assault is the most common form of violence, affecting 9% of all 13-17-year-olds.
Robbery and sexual assault were each reported by 6%.
Being threatened or attacked with a weapon was experienced by 5%.

Most victims have been the victim of violence from someone they know, whether a family member (17%), a friend (31%) or another acquaintance (41%).

Children commit violence in reaction to others.

16%

of children have been a perpetrator of violence.

Many of the 16% of children who committed violence cited reactive motivations. For instance, 36% acted out of annoyance, humiliation or feeling threatened, while 29% retaliated for previous violence. Bullying is a significant factor for 25% of respondents, and 17% report engaging in violence for self-defence or due to rivalries related to gangs, neighbourhoods or schools. Half (49%) of all children who perpetrated violence in the past year have also been a victim themselves.

YEF’s Youth Advisory Board share their reflections on the findings on ‘Who is affected by violence?’

Experiences of violence are concentrated among the most vulnerable.

This year’s report sheds new light on children at risk of exploitation, revealing even more concerning links between vulnerability and violence. Children who went missing from home were five times more likely to engage in violence, while those approached to transport or store drugs and weapons were six times more likely. Gang involvement and carrying weapons further escalated these risks, with children in gangs or those carrying weapons being seven times more likely to commit acts of violence than their peers.

Children struggling in education are also particularly vulnerable. Those who are persistently absent, suspended, excluded or attending alternative education settings are far more likely to be victims of and to engage in violent behaviour than their peers.

A relatively small number are driven to carry weapons.

of children aged 13-17 say they have carried a weapon in the past year.

Although the possession, sale and supply of zombie-style knives and machetes are now illegal in the UK, only a small proportion of those who’ve carried weapons (17%) admit to carrying such knives before the ban. Kitchen and other types of knives are much more likely to be carried. Other items carried include screwdrivers or stabbing implements (25%) and sticks, clubs or hitting implements (24%).

Younger teenagers aged 13-15 are more likely to carry weapons compared to those aged 16-17. Nearly half (47%) of those who carry a weapon do so for self-protection. Others cited being asked by someone else (37%), scaring others (31%) or following the behaviour of their peers (18%).

I [used] to carry weapons – almost every day I would carry a weapon. And I’m not really one of these people who say, ‘Oh, I carried it for protection’ because if I was really that scared, then I wouldn’t have left the house. But for me, it was a bit more of a precaution just because where I’m from, if you haven’t got your weapon, but they’ve got their weapon, then you’re in serious trouble, and you’re going to get hurt. So, it was more of just a precaution in case the other person had weapons. Then I can defend myself.
Tommy*, Youth Endowment Fund Youth Advisory Board member

*Name has been changed

The majority of children feel the effects of violence.

While 20% of teenagers experienced violence first-hand as victims, its impact extends far wider, with two-thirds (67%) expressing concern about becoming victims themselves. Concern is highest among children from Black and mixed ethnic backgrounds, 74% and 70%, respectively, compared to 66% of White children.

This widespread fear is reshaping how children live their lives. Over half (52%) reported changing their behaviours, with a third (33%) avoiding certain places or social events. For over a fifth (22%), the anxiety has taken a toll on their mental health, disrupting sleep, suppressing appetite and making it harder to focus in school.