If attitudes are to change it is far more logical, and effective, to tackle the causes and problems that have led a young person to the position where they feel they need to carry a knife to gain respect. We need to help young people develop a sense of character and responsibility to stop them from picking up the knife in the first place and carrying out youth on youth violence.

Utilising early intervention processes, Beatbullying’s Gateway programmes are specifically designed and proven to divert the behaviour of young people who are heading towards the tipping point or “Gateway” to criminal and extreme antisocial behavior. It’s vital that the government continues to support behaviour modification strategies, conflict resolution, anger management and impulse control particularly in the hardest hit areas. This is best achieved by partnering with the third sector with an emphasis on peer-lead practice and interventions which can stem the tide of a youth culture which is bound up with fear and violence.

These latest figures are encouraging, what we must ensure is that the good foundation is not wasted on complacency. The government needs to continue its work adopting an integrated approach with parents, teachers and the third sector, all helping to put a stop to the violence that many young people in the UK continue to face on a daily basis.