Young people in Greenwich are disproportionately represented as both victims and suspects in serious violence cases, according to a report considered by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel on 9 July 2025.

The report, commissioned as part of the panel's 2025-26 work programme, provided an update on youth crime reduction and the operation of the serious violence duty. It highlighted key findings from a Strategic Needs Assessment, which analysed data related to violence, deprivation, and health in the borough. The Council developed the Strategic Needs Assessment to better understand current and emerging serious violence trends, priority locations and other high-risk issues.

One of the most concerning findings was the overrepresentation of young people, particularly those aged under 18, as victims of several categories of serious violence. The report stated that young people accounted for the largest share of victims of sexual offences (35%), personal robbery (30%), and homicide (40%) in 2021-2022. Data from 2021–2022 in Greenwich shows that young people, particularly those aged under 18, were more likely to be victims of several categories of serious violence. The 18–24 age group also had a significant presence, particularly in sexual offences (21%), homicide (20%), and threats to kill (14%).

Chart showing the scale of domestic abuse and risk factors experienced by sample cases.
Chart showing the scale of domestic abuse and risk factors experienced by sample cases.Source: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel papers, 9 July 2025

The report also found that those aged 16–20 are significantly overrepresented among knife crime victims compared to their Greenwich population size. The 11 to 15 age group accounts for 21% of victims in 2023 and 17% in 2024, despite representing only 6% of the population. Similarly, the 16 to 20 group makes up 24% of victims in 2023 and 23% in 2024, despite representing 5% of the Greenwich population.

Furthermore, young people, particularly those aged under 18 and 18–24, had a higher representation as suspects across several categories of serious violence. Those aged under 18 were the most represented in personal robbery (47%) and had a notable presence in homicide (29%) and sexual offences (22%). The 18–24 age group had the highest representation in homicide (33%) and featured strongly in personal robbery (29%), violence with injury (18%), and threats to kill (15%).

Bar chart showing locations where young people feel unsafe.
Bar chart showing locations where young people feel unsafe.Source: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel papers, 9 July 2025

The report highlighted a correlation between deprivation and the prevalence of serious violence, noting that areas of the borough with higher levels of deprivation have been hotspots for serious violence over the last two decades.

Proportion of Greenwich LSOAs in most deprived 10% of areas nationally, broken down by income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment.
Proportion of Greenwich LSOAs in most deprived 10% of areas nationally, broken down by income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment.Source: Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel papers, 9 July 2025
It also found that children who are perpetrators of serious violence have often experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to the RBG Serious Violence Strategic Needs Assessment 2023 to 2024, these ACEs include abuse, neglect, traumatic bereavement or family dysfunction. Analysis of children engaged within a youth diversion programme up to July 2023 found 93% had experienced at least one ACE, and one in three young people in the programme had experienced and/or witnessed some form of domestic abuse.

The council's agreed definition of serious violence encompasses any violence and exploitation affecting young people and adults (with a particular focus on those under the age of 25), domestic abuse, and sexual violence. It includes homicide, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, personal robbery, threats to kill, and violence against property caused during the commission of one of these offences.

The Greenwich Youth Justice Service (YJS), a multi-agency team, works with children aged 10 to 17 who have encountered conflict with the law or who are at risk of offending. The report noted that the rate of first-time entrants to the youth justice system in Greenwich remains higher than statistical and geographic neighbours, with the latest published figures showing a rate of 253 per 10,000, compared to 160 nationally and 192 across London. The report indicates that effective approaches to youth crime prevention and early intervention are responsive to presenting risk and address underlying need. There are a range of contributing factors that make a child more likely to be drawn into the youth justice system – including physical and mental health issues, speech and language needs and problems maintaining stable educational placements. In Greenwich there are a range of available services to address emerging issues early (universal and targeted services) as well as intervene robustly when required (targeted and specialist services).

The report also included information on community and youth engagement initiatives, such as Young Greenwich, which delivers prevention work around crime and anti-social behaviour. This includes joint sessions delivered in Greenwich Youth Hubs between youth workers and the Metropolitan Police, covering topics such as county lines, the new Stop and Search Charter, drug misuse, and violence against women and girls.

The panel also reviewed a range of interventions in place to prevent and reduce serious youth violence in the borough, delivered across Children's Services and Safer Communities Directorates.