Why are so many young men from single parent families involved in knife crime? Poverty may be a significant factor relating to crime among single-parents and their children. SIR – Many mongrels are indeed a delight (Comment, August 23). Definitions: Children under age 18 who live with their own single parent either in a family or subfamily. There is no yapping or moulting. Abstract: The Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency reports that the most reliable indicator of violent crime in a community is the proportion of fatherless families. The real cause of knife crime is the lack of a dominant male father in the family. This has now been acknowledged by Iain Duncan Smith, who has called for “intensifying” use of stop and search. The number of single-parent households in the United States has reached high levels in recent decades. While in 2016/2017 London as a whole saw a 24% increase in knife crime, it was poorest boroughs which bore the brunt of this rise (with Southwark seeing a 46% increase, Lambeth a 51% increase and Croydon a 103% increase). Hilary J Saxby Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Knowing the Law and talking to your child about the dangers can help keep them safe. Alert to growing apprehension about the state of the American family during his 1976 presidential campaign, Jimmy Carter had promised a conference on the subject. In 2017 two thirds of knife crime offenders under 25 in London were black or minority ethnic, according to the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime. These animals are brave, uncomplaining, independent, funny and intelligent. SIR – Abby Young-Powell reports on the outbreak of anti-immigration violence in Germany. It made me very popular. As the extant literature suggests that children raised in single-parent households experience more physical and psychological problems compared to those raised in two-parent households, the implications of homes in which fathers are absent may be important to explore for … ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. Keep a look out! Better still, in the UK, there were 2.454 million single mothers compared to 0.4 million single fathers. Kowaleski-Jones (2002) also found that children who live in single-parent or cohabitating families show higher signs of delinquency than those who live in intact and noncohabitating families. crime. The rise of knife crime is a story of poverty, austerity and social deprivation. Today, nearly 25 million children have an absentee father. Of all adolescents, those in intact married families are the least likely to commit delinquent acts. 4)  Teach them that 'rights' come with 'responsibilities'. SIR – The threat of a car-testing track at the site of the Battle of Bosworth – now thankfully scotched – reveals the short-sightedness of Historic England in 2015 in dispensing with its long-standing battlefields panel of historians and archaeologists. Many single parents may be concerned with making ends meet to provide for their family. The evidence, however, does not show that family disruption is the principal cause of high school failure, poverty, and delinquency. Barking is used solely to draw your attention (and then stops), while the fur stays where it belongs – on the coat. December 3, 2012 ... even while the percentage of single-parent families continued to … With so many parents telling me that their go-to advice for their kids, if hit, is to hit back harder, the logical extension when it comes to knife crime is terrifying. Many were locked up because of knife crime violence. Professor Anne Curry University of Southampton. Parent, Grandparents and extended Family Members...you can play a vital role in stopping 'Knife Crime' becoming a part of your young people's lives. In a meeting at the White House, Ballard (1995), Many young people will not recognise themselves as being in a 'gang'...but in a group! Involve youself in your child's life in a positive way: 1)  Talk to you child - keep reminding him/her that they can raise any issues of concern with you. Ask about resources to help you organise a 'Safety Event'. Without it, no expert was aware of the risk to the Bosworth site until the 11th hour. Or you can write to ann@KnifeCrimes.org for ideas about holding an event, as well as tailoring the information at the event to accommodate bringing children. Therefore, legally, the reign of Edward V ran until the accession of Henry Tudor as Henry VII. Keeping your Child safe from 'Knife Crime!' Lorne Macadam, 30 My entry explores the devastation and heartbreak knife crime in London is causing to the victims/perpetrators and their families. WHAT YOU CAN DO...There are things you can do to help prevent your child from being involved in the first place. SIR – Why just blame the Prime Minister for the rise in crime? Keep a look out! Battlefields are not like listed buildings but they need specialist input. Two people stabbed to … And according to a 2009 report from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.7 million single parents across the U.S., with single mothers outpacing single fathers five to one. You can help your child make the right choice. Site hosted by Datapartners. Two thirds of all children murdered, are murdered by their mother. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. Parent, Grandparents and extended Family Members...you can play a vital role in stopping 'Knife Crime' becoming a part of your young people's lives.Knowing the Law and talking to your child about the dangers can help keep them safe. GANGS...ADVICE TO PARENTS - Why do Young People join Gangs? About 28 percent of children of all races lived with a single parent in 2006. In her judgment, a 22-page document, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Gloucester affirms that she “must start from the strong presumption against changes which would detrimentally affect the special architectural character or historic interest of a listed building”. SIR  – I am one of the churchgoers at the church of St Philip and St James in Cheltenham, which is soon to have its pews removed as part of its refurbishment (Letters, August 29). However, that is compensated with certain strengths of single parenting. 2) The same is true for crime. The number of killings in London this year has reached 100, Riot police look on as protesters gather in Chemnitz, Germany, Originally bred for hunting rats, badgers and fox, the Welsh terrier is now under threat, A parcel needs to be in good order before it can set out, Letters: The Covid response is being stifled by an unimaginative bureaucracy. ABSTRACT. Children of single parents miss that setup. Knife crime image copyright PA Media A lack of male role models is a key factor behind the increase in knife crime and gang violence, a senior police officer has suggested. My nephew was somewhat bemused to receive a parcel covered in red and white tags. Through Brexit, Britain has – in the nick of time – responsibly set an example of how to achieve national self-government without extremism. SIR – I was interested in the report of fruit washed ashore in Shetland (“Pineapples galore for islanders”, August 28). C Changing Structure of the Family. sins of the fathers Single mum insists absent dads DO cause knife crime and ruin kids’ lives Asha Mohammed-Lee, 47, from South Norwood, told how her kids’ dad … All kinds of Parent Groups and Clubs are now seeing the benefit of holding a 'Parents Safety Awareness' Event...there's plenty of information on the link below. 3)  Help your child to understand that success require effort. 2)  Acknowledge you child's achievements. We really recommend you look at 'The Honesty Lab' a really great way to engage the rest of the family with views on 'What is dishonest, dishonourable and immoral behaviour'...it is fun and a real way to 'Have Your Say' on this amazing issue! I had tied up a birthday present for my nephew with colourful red and white string and I put sticky tape over the places where the strings crossed. Just after the war, a ship sank in the North Sea with a cargo of grapefruit. However, it is now customary not to ruffle the feathers of minority groups lest we offend. SIR – Like Philip Jarrett (Letters, August 22), I had a parcel refused by the post office as it was tied up with string, which they said was not allowed because “it would wreck the machines”. This the Battlefields Trust can provide pro bono. Being in a gang is not illegal...only the criminal offences committed that are illegal! Today we see all sorts of single parent families: headed by mothers, fathers, and even by a grandparent raising their grandchildren. The lady at the post office counter was very helpful and kindly cut off all the string that wasn’t stuck down with tape before accepting the parcel. They don't always show the truth about gangs...nor, the destruction they can cause. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. The battle was thus between two pretenders to the throne: Henry Tudor (Earl of Richmond) and Richard Plantagenet (Duke of York). At the aggregate or community level, the concentration of SFFs in some communities may be too low to impact youth crime. I wanted to know the reason why. Those who work with gangs often talk about young men from single-parent families finding role model figures in gang ‘elders’, who are able to then lure them into a life of crime. 6)  Stick to your rules...avoid appearance of double standards. 6. Kay Hymowitz. Society tolerates so many spurious variations on what constitutes the “family” that we have lost the essential perspective of the importance of the male role. For more information about the Law - visit:  www.direct.gov.uk/gangs, Copyright ©KnifeCrimes.Org 2020 2)  Teach them how to cope with peer pressure...how to deal with conflicts without the use of violence. There's lots more information to be uploaded on this page soon...including a new Text Messaging service for all concerned parents to make contact and receive advice. This is NOT a good option! The Real, Complex Connection Between Single-Parent Families and Crime. 5)  Encourange your child to take part in positive after school activities. For many reasons including broken relationships, poverty, addiction, mental health and, a more visceral perpetrator of hurt, knife crime – currently a contentious topic of conversation not only in affected communities (considering the spate of recent incidents) but in the media as well and amongst the authorities. SIR – This can’t be true, but whenever Parliament is on holiday, things seem to run a whole lot smoother. This is a big issue which society has largely ignored because it is difficult to solve as well being politically sensitive. However, we should also spare a thought for threatened British breeds: for example the wonderful Welsh terrier, reputedly the oldest known breed in Britain. 22.8% of children aged 10-14 years were living with a single parent. 4)  ALWAYS...report someone you 'know' or 'suspect' is carrying a knife! SIR – To address the problem of unforgiving pews, churches should do what we at St Dunstan’s have done and put cushions on them – much more comfortable than a hard wooden chair. Try to avoid situations and/or people that scare or bully...and REPORT IT! Accusations are made of “populism”, but proponents of European integration cannot grasp that individuals, such as those in Italy who wish to run their own economy and political system, and regard being in the euro as being in a German prison, are so frustrated that they can be persuaded to move from national democratic aspirations to extremism. SIR – You refer to Henry Tudor defeating Richard III at Bosworth. 4)  Get involved in your chil's school activities, if you can spare time. Titulus Regulus, the act which gave Richard Duke of York the crown, was repealed in the first parliament of Henry VII’s reign. When on social nights out with friends...alcohol intake and other factors can cause a perfectly enjoyable evening to spill into violence and anti-social situations. This video content is no longer available, To watch The Telegraph's latest video content please visit, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Talk to your Child about Knives! Today single parent families have become even more common than the so-called "nuclear family" consisting of a mother, father and children. There is considerable evidence that this is causing problems in many respects, particularly to do with crime, lack of educational achievement, underachievement in the workplace, and poor physical and mental health in single parents and their offspring. Tamar Heller, in International Review of Research in Mental Retardation, 1997. This study examined if family structure affects childhood delinquency. Those petitioning for the reordering have yet to provide evidence to the contrary. My mother sent a box to my school boarding house, as no one had ever tasted one. 3)  Talk about the danger and consequences of 'gang' involvement. What should I tell my child about Knife Crime?...This can be a tricky conversation, but here's more handy points you can raise with your child:  www.2smart.co.uk/knives/parents.htm. It is not only true in Germany; it is endemic throughout large swathes of the EU. A new Pew Research Center study of 130 countries and territories shows that the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households.. Even if you live in a leafy suburb 'fear of crime' can still effect young people...it is paramount that as they grow and mature into young adults they understand how to 'stay safe' when they travel to large towns, cities or even Abroad. SIR – Quite apart from plastic bags (Letters, August 27), why does milk have to come in plastic containers? You can play an important role in stopping Knife Crime becoming part of your child's life...Safety first - Second - Always...where Knives are concerned! Britain has an unusually high incidence of single-parent families compared with most other developed countries. This gave the police the power to stop and search suspects. Sometimes there might be obvious reasons for you to think your child may be carrying a knife...such as a knife going missing from the kitchen! 6)  If your child is being bullied or feeling threatened by someone they think is carrying a knife...NEVER be tempted to carry even in the belief it will protect them...most children who carry knives, say it because they are scared. Despite numerous warnings that cuts of over 20 per cent – now nearing 35 per cent – would have serious consequences, she continued with them. It could save a life...tell a trusted adult, parent, teacher or anonymously to Crimestoppers. 3)  NEVER...believe you can reason or negotiate...walk away and report it to someone! Homicide rates were higher in the early 2000s than they are today. In its bumbling way and with far-reaching political consequences, the executive branch also offered warm greetings to the single-parent family. The figures for single-parent families show a rosier picture among other races. Mrs May also threatened to pass primary legislation to force a reduction in the use of stop and search if the numbers were not reduced, despite being warned that it was imperative for police to use that preventive tool to help curb the rising incidents of knife crime. A lot of the blame lies with those who removed Section 66 of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839. The empirical evidence shows that too many young men and women from broken families tend to have a much weaker sense of connection with their neighborhood … There's lots more information on the 'Children & Young People' Section (of this website)...to help engage young people in all aspects that will effect their future lives. If there is one person that  your son or daughter will listen to...it's you! Often images on the TV, in the movies and the media tend to glorify drugs, sex and violence as an acceptable lifestyle. The Chancellor states that many “consider that the architectural heritage of the Church of England should not be thrown out with the bathwater to facilitate changing and ephemeral liturgical fashion”. single parent may encounter. WHAT THE LAW SAYS...Whilst there are currently no laws banning 'gang' membership, the Law does focus on criminal behaviour. Much of the information contained on this resource will also be of interest to parents and teachers. Rather than belittling the views of objectors, she gives them due deference and considers that “letters received from parishioners are heartfelt and thoughtful”, while “objectors have provided balanced objections”. U.S. Census Bureau (2009) reported that 39% of single-parent families live in poverty. The favourite was to line the oven with newspaper and warm then gently. How knife crime is affecting families in one south London neighbourhood. 1)  Be a positive role model; remember children learn from what they see and experience. In this definition, single-parent families may include cohabiting couples and do not include children living with married stepparents. Parent Support SMS Text Messaging is here: +44(0)779 780 0031. However, most groups of friends do not commit crime. But stabbings are on the rise. They found that single parenthood does reduce the well-being of children. SIR – To reduce the number of “ghost patients” on GPs’ books, why doesn’t the admirable “Tell Us Once” service, which informs many government departments of a person’s death, include the NHS? 1) According to the professional literature, the absence of the father is the single most important cause of poverty. - Download Information leaflet - click here, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~, SOME USEFUL ADVICE TO DISCUSS...when speaking to you child about Safety:-. SIR – Tony Sewell is right. Many Parents are very concerned about their children's 'safety'...at School, at play and when going out socially. 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