Tory cuts to ‘life-saving’ public services driving knife crime among young people, major report finds

Lizzie Dearden writes that young people are increasingly drawn into violence because support has been reduced or removed, according to parliament’s Youth Select Committee

The justice system has been at the sharp end of austerity since 2010 (PA)

Budget cuts to “life-saving” public services are driving an epidemic of stabbings and violence among young people, a report has found.

Parliament’s Youth Select Committee, which includes teenagers aged 16 to 18, said inequality and poor opportunities were making children vulnerable to being drawn into gangs.

“Cuts to important and arguably life-saving services such as community police officers, youth community groups, health and education services means that the support previously in place for vulnerable young people has been weakened or in some cases completely removed,” the committee concluded.