The number of fatal stabbings in the UK is at its highest level since 1946. According to the Office of National Statistics, the most common method of killing in the UK is by a knife or other sharp instrument. Last year, 39% of all homicides were a result of knife crime.
There are many theories as to what is causing this spike, from government austerity and political disillusion to lyrics in rap music. Tom (not his real name), a 23-year-old gang member from East London, believes the media have a large influence on knife crime: “All these youths are running around doing what they see on TV and they think it’s normal, but it’s not normal.”
Gang life and music
Drill music, a form of rap which famously talks about gang life, has been a target for anti-knife crime activists, politicians and the police. Last summer, the London Metropolitan Police began working with YouTube to take down videos that ‘raise the risk of violence’.
A South London drill rap group called ’67’ has run into legal problems in the past, with one of their members being jailed for knife possession. The lyrics for their song ‘I Trap’ reads: “Bro got 25 shots don’t run coz i’ll blow out your back.” The police have labelled them as a criminal gang and have fought to shut down some of their shows for inciting violence. However, should rappers be blamed for merely painting a picture of their life?
Last year, a member of 67 called Dimzy wrote a letter arguing against the notion that rap music causes knife crime, and believes that rapping has positively changed his life: “I don’t think it is right to blame or alienate one music genre as a scapegoat. [Rappers] are talking about life as they see it and experiences they have been through, the same as any other artist tends to in any other genre.”
One in five knife possessors are under 18
Ultimately, whether you believe TV and music incites knife crime, the main issue is young people’s mentality towards violence. According to the Ministry of Justice, one in five people charged with knife possession were under 18 years old.
Tom describes how normalised knife crime is amongst his generation: “I could be walking down the street in the wrong ends and accidentally look at some guy and then he’ll think ‘why is he looking at me?’ and come shank me. It’s that kind of bullshit. It’s all post code wars and gang stuff. If someone comes in your area selling bare drugs, you’ll do whatever it takes to stop them taking your business.
“If you’re on the streets, you care more about money than life.”