Many young people from Centrepoint services have been affected by the increasing use of weapons on Britain’s streets and the rising number of deaths of young people as a result, both directly and indirectly.  For some, this contributed to the circumstances in which they found themselves homeless.  For all, it is a constant fear and potential risk. 

Young people from across Centrepoint took part in a debate on ‘Disarming Britain: a debate on street weapons’ to hear the panel’s views on how they think the issue should be tackled and to put their own views and solutions across about the uncomfortable truths of gun and knife crime.

Hosted by Jon Snow, the panel included MPs, journalists and professionals working with young people affected by street crime.

The session started with a video of young people describing why they carry weapons, including the need to feel respected, the effects of peer pressure and feeling this is their opportunity to make a name for themselves and ensure their own families are safe in the future.  They described why they feel weapons are used so frequently and the transition from carrying knives to the increasing desire to carry guns – including how cheaply they can be obtained:

“Knives aren’t what I worry about.  It used to be but now only the young boys carry knives – the men carry guns.”

One young man from Centrepoint recognised the experiences presented in the video.  Originally from Manchester he described how he grew up surrounded by violent crime:

“You saw a lot of crime there.  You could get your head kicked in for nothing.  I was in a pub once and I saw a guy get his head blown off with a shotgun.  I grew up on that stuff.  You hear it every week.  I had to protect myself.  I even got shot with an air-rifle – one went in my shoulder and the other near my head.  It is not just about good and bad people – you get good people hanging out with the bad group as they want to get in with them.  I used to be like that when I was younger but now I’m older I don’t want to do that.”

The debate promoted interesting discussion from what people perceived as the reasons for the escalation in gun and knife crime, to what the potential solutions could be.  Four Centrepoint young people contributed to the debate which was screened live on the Channel 4 website and Channel Four Community Channel, commenting on the role of parenting/families, the perception of young people in society, the increasing gap between the older and younger generations, and the need for education – particularly how important peer educators can be.

Afterwards Centrepoint young people met members of the panel, including Jon Snow; Dawn Butler MP; Ian Levy, a Commissioner on the Street Weapons Commission (chaired by Cherie Booth QC); and David Gustave, and educational motivator now working with Kidz Company who experienced street violence in his youth and now uses his experiences to motivate young people to have aspirations and steer away from this course.

Emilyn; a Centrepoint Youth Educator, said:

“It was an interesting debate and I hope that we were listened to.  It was obvious not everyone agreed with what we were saying.  It was disappointing to not have a young person actually on the panel – it was all professionals.”