Colchester: young adults concerned of knife crime

Fighting ,‘being jumped’ which means being attacked when off guard, and hate crime were also high on the list of concerns.

Roughly 1,434 individuals across Essex participated in the 2024 Listening Project which is led by Essex Council of Voluntary Youth Services and Essex Police's violence and vulnerability unit.

The project looks at youth violence and consists of face-to-face conversations between young people and trusted leaders in youth groups, sports groups, schools, and more.

It was designed to help the violence and vulnerability unit understand the concerns of young people in each area across Essex, and was carried out across the Spring period.

Concern - an illustration of a person with a knife

In total 84 young people from across five groups took part, including the Tiptree Youth Project Outreach, The Outhouse Colchester, St Annes Youth Club Colchester, AFIUK Youth Group Colchester, and the Colchester Essex YMCA.

The biggest concern for young people in Colchester around youth violence is knife crime, with 31 per cent of young people stating this is the main issue that worries them.

Of those surveyed 80 per cent of Colchester young people said they are worried about being exploited by a gang.

This project also found that large groups, poorly lit areas, people smoking and drug users, made young people in Colchester feel unsafe.

When asked what makes them feel safe, 25 per cent said being with friends and 15 per cent said having a youth worker or trusted adult. 

After being asked what could help them feel safer, the young people answered that more youth clubs, and places for entertainment would help.

Young people were also asked on what activities they would like to see available, and the top answer was sport at 38 per cent.

The findings will now be shared with local authorities, youth groups, the community safety partnership, safeguarding boards, and more, in effort to make the county a safer place.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, and Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership Roger Hirst, said: “Once again the Listening Projects have delivered a unique insight into the concerns and worries of our young people.

Police, fire, and Crime Commissioner - Roger Hirst (Image: Essex PFCC)

“They paint a picture of each district and borough across Essex and therefore allow us to tailor our responses to these concerns.

“While crime rates are falling across Essex, young people do have real and personal fears about youth violence.

“I thank all those who shared their concerns and look forward to working with our partners to address some of these fears.”

You can read the full report at tinyurl.com/nwh6dw4p.