“There are no quick fixes to solve the problems of gun and knife violence in Britain. No single policy that would reverse the trend of young people carrying weapons. An effective response will need action from a wide range of organisations; from central government, the police, local authorities, schools, communities and individuals.”
Street Weapons Commission Report July 2008

On Friday 27th February the Street Weapons Commission brought together 100 people to debate how we are tackling youth violence.

Participants came from across the country and represented a wide range of individuals and organisations who deal with youth violence and its consequences every day.

While the statistics show some progress in tackling the problem, many at the forum remain deeply concerned that guns and knives are becoming a part of normal life for some young people in Britain.

The discussion covered a range of issues but there was broad support for the following recommendations from the Street Weapons Commission report:

1. The UK Government should establish a Violence Reduction Unit as an urgent priority to bring together people tackling youth violence every day to deliver a public health approach to the problem.

2. Education, in all its forms, must be central to any strategy to tackle street weapons. Innovative ways of reaching young people should be encouraged for all age groups.

3. Any strategy to combat knife and gun crime must be firmly rooted in the local community. Support must be accessible to all and while it is important to measure their success, community groups need to be given the opportunity to see their work through.

The impact of youth violence goes much wider than just the victims - affecting families, the whole community and the country.

Success in eliminating street weapons will involve a thousand small victories from people working in their local communities.