Yvette Cooper has announced plans for a new unit to prevent violent crime among young people, citing the difficulties teenagers face due to knives, mental health pressures, and social media. The new “young futures” unit will be based in the Home Office with the goal of halving violent crime in a decade. Cooper emphasized the importance of addressing the links between knife crime and poor mental health services.
The program will involve collaborations between police, mental health professionals, schools, youth offending teams, and charities to steer teenagers away from crime. Cooper expressed concern over the challenges faced by teenagers today, including social media pressures, county lines, and mental health issues. The initiative aims to give all teenagers the best start in life and will include the establishment of “youth hubs.”
Cooper noted that under Conservative governments, support for teenagers became fragmented and neglected. A report from the Resolution Foundation showed an increase in the number of teenagers needing disability support. Cooper highlighted the need for urgent action to address violence against women and girls, expressing frustration with incremental change and calling for mobilization across the country.
While discussing recent violent incidents, Cooper emphasized the importance of holding individuals responsible for criminal behavior and called for social media companies to take action against misinformation. She stressed the need to address online harms and misinformation, indicating that measures taken during the election could be revisited. The overall aim is to prevent young people from being drawn into crime and violence while improving mental health services and support for teenagers.
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