Combining a survey of 2,025 children and young people with a review of national statistics in the UK, this report explores the ways in which violence – and fear of violence – is shaping children’s lives.

A nationally representative survey found that:

• 14% of teenage children had been a victim of violence in the last 12 months 
• 39% of teens had been a victim or witness of violence in the last 12 months
• 55% of teens said they’d seen real life acts of violence on social media in the last 12 months. 24% said they’d seen children carrying, promoting, or using weapons.
• 65% of teens said they’d changed their behaviour to keep themselves safe from violence in the last 12 months. 14% had been absent from school out of fear. A further 14% said it caused them to lose concentration, because of worry. 16% avoided going to a social event. And 2% even said that their fear had led to them carrying a weapon.
• 26% want to see changes to policing (such as more patrols) to address violence, alongside more youth clubs and activities (15%) and drug and alcohol services (10%).