VIOLENCE AMONG TEENS LEADING TO CALLS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT TO ACT

WALES is experiencing an alarming surge in violent crime among young people, sparking urgent calls for the Welsh Government to reassess its approach to youth justice and crime prevention. This growing crisis has led to renewed scrutiny of the Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales, with critics arguing that it is failing to prevent serious offenses, including knife crime, sexual violence, and gang-related violence.

A growing epidemic of youth violence

The issue of youth crime has come to the forefront following several high-profile cases involving teenage offenders. Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Dr. Altaf Hussain MS, has expressed grave concerns about the rise in youth violence, citing cases such as:

• The knife attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, where a 14-year-old girl attempted to murder two teachers and a fellow student. The girl later told police she did it “for notoriety.”
• Stabbings in Mid Wales, where violent altercations between teenagers have left multiple victims hospitalised.
• Attempted murder in Newport, highlighting an increasing trend in serious violence among young offenders.

Dr. Hussain stressed that the rise in violent crime is not limited to youth offenders. He pointed out that Wales is “bucking the national trend,” with violent crime increasing in regions such as South Wales and Gwent, even as other parts of the UK see a decline.

“Disturbingly, South Wales Police is the only force to see a rise in sexual violence, and conviction rates remain dismally low,” Dr. Hussain stated. “We need assurances from the Welsh Government that Police and Crime Commissioners have robust plans to tackle violent crime and sexual violence so that families and communities in Wales can feel safe.”

Crime Data: The reality in Wales

Recent statistics support the growing concerns about violent crime across Wales. According to the latest figures:

• Knife crime is on the rise across Wales, following a 4% national increase in knife-related offenses in England and Wales, reaching 50,010 incidents in the year ending March 2024 (ONS).
• Sexual offenses reported in South Wales increased last year, making it the only force area in the UK to see a rise in such crimes.
• 1.9 million violent or sexual crimes in England and Wales were closed without a suspect being caught or charged in the year to June 2024, with 89% of all offenses going unsolved (The Guardian).

Additionally, the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that 0.5% of people aged 16 and over experienced violence with or without injury from an acquaintance, and 0.7% experienced stranger violence, with no statistically significant change from the previous year.

Local perspective: What’s happening in Dyfed-Powys?

Closer to home, Dyfed-Powys Police data provides a clearer picture of crime in Pembrokeshire and surrounding regions:

• Violence against the person remains one of the most common offenses in Dyfed-Powys, with reports increasing year-on-year.
• Knife-related offenses are rising, although the total number remains lower than in urban areas like Cardiff and Newport.
• Drug-related violence and gang activity are emerging issues in towns across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion.

The force has warned that social media is fueling gang culture among teens, with platforms like Snapchat and TikTok being used to organize fights and intimidate rivals.

Are current strategies failing?

In 2019, the Welsh Government introduced the Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales, aimed at reducing reoffending rates among young people. However, critics argue that the strategy has failed to address early intervention, and many offenders remain trapped in a cycle of crime.

Dr. Hussain has called on the Welsh Government to take immediate action, including:

• Ensuring Police and Crime Commissioners adopt stricter crime prevention strategies.
• Increasing funding for youth intervention programs that deter young people from joining gangs or engaging in violence.
• Addressing the root causes of youth crime, such as poverty, lack of opportunities, and social exclusion.

“We cannot allow Wales to become a breeding ground for violent crime,” Dr. Hussain added. “If the Welsh Government is serious about tackling this issue, it must act now, before more lives are lost.”

What’s next?

With violent crime continuing to escalate, pressure is mounting on the Welsh Government to take decisive action. The public, police, and politicians agree that something must be done—but the question remains: how soon will change come?

For now, communities across Wales remain on edge, hoping for urgent reforms that will bring safety back to the streets