Another negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is the increase in the rate of juvenile crime.

Britain is seeing a rise in arrests of children for violent crimes, robberies and knife possession, and experts blame... the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the UK imposed a lockdown to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of children under 18 arrested for crimes has increased by 9% within a year and by 16% since the outbreak of the disease in 2020.

Official figures also show that a total of 58,507 children have been detained as of March 2023.

Arrests of children for violent crimes, robbery and knife possession have increased significantly, with the highest increase (31%) for children for robbery, with 5,981 children in the year to March 2023. Children under 18 now account for more than 39% of all arrests for robbery.

As of March 2023, the total number of children arrested for crimes reached 58,507. (Source: Telegraph)

Meanwhile, the number of children arrested for violent acts against others, from assault to murder, has increased by 22% since the outbreak of the pandemic, while the rate of gun ownership among children has also reached a 10-year high. In the year to March 2023, the number of children owning weapons increased by 21% since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and increased by 30% compared to a decade ago, to nearly 4,190 children.

Children also accounted for nearly 18.4% of all arrests for weapons possession. Nearly 4.6% of knife attacks that required hospital treatment involved children under 16.

The figures were released just one day after the UK arrested five teenagers on suspicion of involvement in the death of 80-year-old Bhim Kohli, who was attacked while walking his dog in Franklin Park, Braunstone town, Leicestershire county, England.

Crime agencies and researchers say there is a link between the increase in criminal activity among children and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, when children were isolated at home without the support of teachers, social interaction and participation in sports activities.

The rise in crime since the pandemic began reflects a decline in school behaviour, with suspensions and expulsions likely up by a fifth over the past academic year.

According to Mr. Jon Yates, CEO of the Youth Support Fund, a charity funded by the UK Home Office to prevent violence among children, there are three factors leading to the increase in this situation.

These include “the negative impact of children being out of school, out of social life and out of sport during lockdown”; the dynamics of family life and lack of support networks during the pandemic; and cuts to public services supporting children such as care and youth facilities over the past decade.

Spending on youth services fell by 56% to £448 million.

“During lockdown, young people have had very little access to guidance, support and intervention from youth services, teachers or trusted adults. I worry we could be feeling the consequences of that,” said Simon Harding, professor of criminology at St Mary’s University.

He pointed out the fact that “there are many cases of children attacking or killing other children and using weapons that were once considered extreme outside of Hollywood or gangster movies but are now becoming common.”

Meanwhile, gun ownership has reached a 10-year high, with 4,189 children arrested for possession in the year to March 2023, up 21% since the Covid-19 pandemic and up 30% from the previous decade.

Children also accounted for 18.4% of all arrests for weapons possession. 4.6% of knife attacks that required hospital treatment involved children under 16.

Of the children under 16 who were hospitalized due to knife attacks, 38% were children aged 10 to 14. In the past two years, about 19 children under 10 were treated in hospital for knife injuries.

This “reflects a deliberate strategy by organized crime groups to recruit children into criminal activities,” said Rick Muir, director of the Police Foundation.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/anh-mot-tac-dong-tieu-cuc-khac-cua-dai-dich-covid-19-do-la-ty-le-tre-em-pham-toi-gia-tang-285170.html