Violence (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Violence

5:10pm Wednesday 27th February 2008

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ANOTHER week and another violent attack runs in the newspaper headlines. Another young person shot or stabbed for a reason we desperately try to find.

So, how have we got ourselves in this situation?

We have heard all the adult' theories that it's the influence of the media, or the living conditions in estates or simply a different era where young people are more violent. But what do young people really think? We went out on the streets to find out.

"I think we learn it from school. People get into fights over the smallest of things. People gather round and give them loads of attention for this. They then take it out onto the street and, what started out small, can turn into full blown violence." - Jessica, 14

"I think a lot of the time people are carrying knifes and stuff for protection. They probably never plan to use them, but then they get into fights and end up using them or having them turned on them" - Stephen, 15

"I reckon the reason so many teenagers are turning violence is because there is so much of it on TV. People are copying what's beamed into the living room everyday" - Danny, 13

"I'm not sure why there are so many murders and stuff, but there's definitely a problem with people thinking/ knowing they're not likely to be badly punished. Young people aren't scared of the police, and they don't seem to be scared of the punishments that come with the crime either." - Holly, 16

As you can see, there's a lot of mixed opinions from young people in Waltham Forest, but they all seem to come down to the same fact that somehow the fear and disgust around violence and murder has been broken down.

Our way forward needs to increase young people's sense of responsibility for their actions if we are to get anywhere fast.