Youths arrested over fatal stabbing in brothel

Two men have been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in Bradford. The man was killed in an attack which took place at the brothel where he was living with his girlfriend. Police told reporters they were looking for 4 young men (in their teens or early 20s) who were seen around the property at the time.

F:\Account Management\CLIENTS\DANONE\Danone 2009\Cross Business\Competitive\Au 09

Youth offenders on knife crime

A report for the BBC (covered here by Headliners) examines how young people within the youth offenders programme feel about knife crime.

http://www.headliners.org/storylibrary/stories/2008/stopmadness.htm

Headliners radio report on knife crime

A group of young people in Maidenhead have produced a radio report on the issue of knife crime. It's quite insightful, examining how different teens are affected by it depending on where they live, and what they think of coverage of knife crime - specifically that it has a negative impact on perceptions of young people.

http://www.headliners.org/storylibrary/stories/2008/youth_violence.htm?id=358827949470947931517

'Headliners' investigate gangs

Headliners is a children's charity with a website dedicated to reporting news issues specifically for young people. A group of under 16s from Hackney have produced a film investigating how gangs in the area are divided by the postcode in which they live.

http://www.headliners.org/storylibrary/stories/2007/five_news_postcode_gangs.htm

Young people create film on gangs

A group of West London teenagers have made a film about the influence of gangs:

http://www.headliners.org/storylibrary/stories/2008/youthgangswhatstheattraction.htm?id=834181440894882040571

Teen stabbed in unprovoked attack

An 18yr old has been stabbed as he took a shortcut through a local park. The attack is seemingly unprovoked; 5 Asian men approached the youth and his friend, an argument broke out and the 18yr old was stabbed in the stomach.

http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1129447_teen_stabbed_in_park

Social networking gets responsible

Social networking site bebo has responded to concerns that gangs are using social networking sites to publicise their violence by attempting to connect young users with youth groups and charities. The move is intended to increase access to support services for young people, and undoubtedly to try to improve perceptions of social networking as an agent for good rather than negative activity.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/therersquos-nothing-social-about-posing-with-knives-and-axes-1773071.html

It has been claimed that online gang activity is rife, with users posting photos of themselves posing with weapons and littering their profiles with references to crime. Increasingly now this is moving underground as profiles are set to private. On the flip side of this, young people have been using social networking sites to pay homage to friends killed as a result of knife and gun crime, posting poems and other tributes to the dead (see previous posts).

16yr old killed in shooting

A 16yr old boy is being hunted by police in connection with the fatal shooting of a 16yr old in Manchester. A further 4 others have now been questionned in relation to the incident.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8204657.stm

Underage festivals go down a storm

Summer festival season is well underway, and to give under 18s the opportunity to experience live music the Underage Festival has pitched up for a 3rd season. Organised by a teenage promoter, it offers young people not only something to do during the summer holidays, but also the chance to get involved and help organise the events.
http://www.underagefestivals.com/

The BBC has covered the events, with presenters/DJs attending:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_8181000/8181164.stm

Young people have blogged about the events, with feedback being very positive:
http://www.need2know.co.uk/need2know/time_out/arts_and_culture/article.html/id=1693

Young people in need of budgeting education

The impact of the credit crunch on young consumers is the focus of a news report out today. Born in a period of economic boom, todays teenagers are widely thought to have no appreciation of the value of money, and little understanding of how to budget effectively.

They've seen their parents get in debt, and are used to borrowing money themselves; coupled with the looming financial burden of university the outlook for a future in the black isn't too good. Economists point to this generation as the key to getting the economy back on an even keel; pointing out that they are used to hunting for bargains (especially online) and the current crisis means they may re-learn spending habits.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8163323.stm

Young offenders afraid to leave their cells

Reports today on a young offenders institute in Kent have claimed that conditions in the centre are so volatile that inmates are afraid to leave their cells.

Prison inspectors have reportedly found that bullying is 'rife' and conditions 'seriously unsafe'; there are also allegations of overcrowding.

Inmates are aged between 15 and 18, and staff were said to be poorly qualified to deal with them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8184705.stm

17yr old girl stabbed to death

A 17yr old girl in Wales has been found stabbed to death in Wales. The body of Chanelle Sasha Jones was found in a car which had been forcibly stopped by police.

In a new twist, a man believed to be her father is being questionned.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8183325.stm

Youth 'sexting' trend concerns

Young people using text messaging to send explicit photos of themselves is becoming a bigger concern. There have been several reports recently that images sent in confidence (for e.g. from girlfriend to boyfriend) have been passed around others, got into the wrong hands, been posted online or used to bully the sender.

Most of the texts are sent by under-18s, and under British law it is illegal to distribute or possess indecent photos of a minor. So in theory, teens could be arrested for taking/sending photos of themselves; a number of such charges have been brought in the States and Australia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_8181000/8181443.stm

Glasgow teens scared to leave the house

A study in Glasgow has found that teenagers feel so threatened by violence in their neighbourhoods that they are afraid to go out. Territorial issues enforced by gangs mean that young people have to take long routes to avoid conflict, or stay within their own housing estates.

The report calls for urgent reviews of funding for local police in order to address the issues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8182601.stm

Social networking tributes to murdered teen rapper

A 19yr old has died after a stabbing outside the nightclub where he was performing.

Carl N. Beatson's body was found in a car stopped near Waterloo for jumping a red light; he died at the scene.

Over 3,000 people have joined a facebook tribute group set up to honour the teen; and a YouTube video released to mark the launch of his first single, 'Buy out Da Bar'.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8180112.stm

Government move to halt youth re-offending

Justice minister Claire Ward has pledged £8m over the next 2yrs for re-settlement programmes, in a bid to cut youth reoffending once they leave prison.

Ward stated that breaking the cycle of offending was key to helping young people and creating safer communities.

The move means that young offenders will have more access to information and services such as education, training and job applications.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8180527.stm