Juvenile and Young Offenders Engaging in Aggressive Acts with Kitchen Knives - Aggressive Behavior and Use of Knives Among Youngsters: Children and Teens Involved in Conflict and Weapons Misuse
Increase in Knife Attacks Among Children and Youth: An In-Depth Analysis of the Phenomenon
In recent times, reports of knife attacks among children and youth have been escalating, with two notable incidents occurring in Berlin and Remscheid. A 13-year-old elementary school student severely injured a 12-year-old in Berlin, while an 11-year-old student defended himself against a 13-year-old attacker in Remscheid.
Despite being minors and not legally accountable for their actions, both parties have been exposed to and even involved in acts of violence, presenting a concerning trend.
Is there a surge in violent acts among youth and children?
According to Professor Thomas Bliesener, director of the Lower Saxony Institute for Crime Research, the data indicate a rise in violent acts. The police crime statistics support this trend, which also includes a growth in violent incidents among children.
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) confirms this increase. In 2024, the police registered almost 30,000 acts of violence, including attacks and threats involving knives. Moreover, 7% of all suspects in this area were children under 14, and 15.6% were youth under 18, representing a nearly 11% increase among children and under 4% among youth compared to the previous year.
Berlin's police president, Barbara Slowik Meisel, has expressed concern over the increasing number of violent acts among children and youth. She points out that these attacks are often a result of peer-to-peer violence, stating, "Unfortunately, it has increased."
What drives this increase in knife-related violence?
Bliesener identifies several factors contributing to this trend. He highlights an increasing coarsening of language among young people supported by social media, which has accelerated the escalation of conflicts. In the past, conflicts were usually resolved verbally, but today they tend to escalate online.
Another factor is the child's exposure to violence, such as physical abuse, and the manner in which emotions like anger are handled within the family. Furthermore, children's role models—including media figures—play a significant role in shaping their behavior.
Does the increase in violence also apply to knife-related offenses among young people?
The BKA reported a rise in knife-related offenses, with an increase of nearly 11% in dangerous and severe bodily injuries involving knife use. However, the statistics do not immediately specify the number of children or youth involved in these offenses.
Bliesener's long-term surveys of ninth-graders show that the number of students carrying a knife has not increased significantly. However, the reason has shifted: while students used to carry knives as tools, more and more now carry them as weapons. He notes that if a knife is carried specifically as a weapon, it becomes mentally accessible and ready for use in threatening situations, potentially leading to more violent outcomes.
In summary, the increase in knife-related violence among children and youth is influenced by factors such as early exposure to violence, challenging social circumstances, lack of engagement with support services, exposure to violence online, and erosion of community support structures.
Counterstrategies to combat knife-related violence among youth include raising awareness about the dangers of knives, working to change adolescents' understanding of honor, reinvesting in youth clubs and safe spaces, implementing legislative measures to restrict access to dangerous weapons, and fostering public dialogue on the complexities of youth violence. These efforts emphasize the need for early intervention, community support, and informed action to address the multifaceted causes of rising knife-related violence among children and youth.
Community policy discussions should involve strategies to address the rising knife-related violence among children and youth, which may include enhancing community support structures and legislative measures to restrict access to dangerous weapons. Meanwhile, the science of adolescent behavior and mental health might offer insights into the factors contributing to this trend, such as the role of social media, exposure to violence, and changes in the perception of knives among youth. Employment policy could also plays a role, as providing positive outlets for at-risk youth through health-and-wellness programs, fitness-and-exercise initiatives, and mental health services may help create a more supportive environment for youth development, potentially reducing the odds of violent behavior. In addition, general news and crime-and-justice coverage could highlight success stories of intervention and prevention programs, drawing attention to the importance of community involvement in tackling this pressing issue.
