‘Youth crime’ is a frequent topic across news headlines, social media forums, and political debates. But behind the statistics and soundbites lies a more complex truth: young people don’t fall into crime by choice — they often fall through the cracks.
Research shows that a young person’s involvement in violence or criminal activity is often shaped by a combination of unmet emotional or practical needs and a lack of safe and positive nurturing environments.
- Unmet needs: trauma, neglect, poverty, isolation, loneliness, and unstable home lives can leave young people feeling invisible and unheard.
- Lack of positive alternatives. When youth clubs close, mentorship dries up, or safe spaces disappear then risky environments can take their place.
If we fail to address the root causes, we don’t just miss the opportunity to help, we risk reinforcing the very cycles we hope to break.
In response, the Neighbourhood Watch Network Youth Council developed the ‘Change the Story’ campaign to highlight the urgent need to shift the narrative around youth crime.
With support from our Young People’s Programme Manager and the wider team, the council explored three key contributing factors — isolation and loneliness, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the decline of youth hubs — and unpacked the critical role of early intervention, prevention, and community-based support to create a hub of helpful resources.
The campaign included a toolkit to reduce loneliness and isolation, and a report on early intervention, prevention, and community-based support.