The slides and recording are for delegates only
About the talks
Dorcas Gwata – Overview of Youth Knife Crime in the UK, voices from the streets
Youth violence and knife crime is increasing dramatically, so much so it has been described as a global epidemic. The social, economic and political forces fuelling this rise mean that minority groups are particularly affected. This presentation gives voice to those affected by knife crime illustrates the disparate factors that are influencing the rise in youth violence and knife crime and illustrates the complexities of integrating the perspectives of different disciplines into coherent intervention strategies.
An innovative mental health nurse led intervention situated in central London, funded by the Office of Mayor of London provided mental health interventions to young people and families affected by youth violence, exploitation and knife crime. We discuss challenges and resilience in communities that are highly exposed to structural violence, discrimination and social vulnerabilities. We appraise the role of nursing, how it can leverage its social contract positioning within communities to keep young people safe from knife crime.
A complex interplay of social, economic, mental health and political factors underpin the increase in youth violence and knife crime. An uneasy tension exists between a traditional criminal justice system-based approach based upon deterrence and punishment, and a more liberal preventative model focusing on adolescent mental health. None of the interventions thus far have been particularly effective.
Youth violence and knife crime is a global social issue that causes untold suffering to individuals, families and communities as well as fear that reverberates through society. Interventions have often been devised through the lens of particular disciplines or ideologies.
Learning objectives:
- Understanding of the public health challenges of knife crime in London
- Appreciation of the lived experiences of those affected by knife crime and exploitation
- To provide a thinking space to explore what each one of us can do to support vulnerable young people affected by knife crime
- To appreciate positive outcome and explore scope for scalability
Professor Kevin Browne – The Prevention of Knife Crime
Existing community interventions for violence and knife crime have been criticized for their limited efficacy and lack of specialism and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Characteristics were recorded on a sample 250 young males aged 11 to 17 years referred for knife crime offences to the Youth Offending Service in Nottingham. Two major categories were found: Gang related knife crime (GKC) and Personal adversity related knife crime (PAKC): GKC involved ‘instrumental aggression’ by groups of young people to protect territory and for illegal drug sales. It was characterised by prolific knife offences, previous history of criminal acts, and gang membership. By contrast, PAKC involved young people with previous adverse experiences acting alone and showing ‘hostile/expressive aggression’ with impulsivity. Two-Thirds of PAKC offenders had mental health issues. More investment in adolescent mental health services is required to prevent violence and knife crime. This is important for vulnerable young people with neurodiversity, as ASD and ADHD are both associated with juvenile delinquency. Mental health problems can be exacerbated by YOIs, whereas specialist foster carer, with a male parent substitute, who can act as a positive role model, can reduce antisocial behaviour. YOIs limit the freedom and social experiences of a child at a critical age of adolescence and teenage years has not been shown to be effective with two thirds of young offenders placed in custody and other secure environments re-offending within 12 months. Secure schools, specialist foster care and the ‘child first’ approach acknowledges the importance of targeting interventions to promote a child’s healthy development and wellbeing and have been more successful with approximately one third going on to reoffend within 12 months.
Learning objectives
- To recognise the limitations of a criminal justice approach to the prevention of knife crime.
About the speakers
Dorcas Gwata is an award-winning frontline Mental Health Nurse, Global Health Consultant, and qualified Executive Ubuntu Coach, renowned for her work across health, social justice, and leadership development.
In 2022, she was honoured as The Sun’s Best Nurse, and in 2024 she was named one of the 100 Most Influential BAME Leaders by the Health Service Journal. Dorcas has worked extensively under the Mayor of London’s Office, pioneering a ‘street clinic’ approach to support young people and families affected by gang culture, youth violence, and exploitation, applying trauma-informed care models to communities impacted by knife crime in London.
In her current role as a Diaspora Global Health Consultant, Dorcas works with the Global Health Partnership to design and implement health collaborations between the UK and Zimbabwe. She has been instrumental in promoting bi-directional learning, strengthening diplomatic ties, and recognising the significant contributions of Zimbabwean healthcare professionals within the UK’s health system.
Dorcas is both a Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole Alumni, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a leading role in tackling institutional racism and healthcare inequalities.
She also serves as a Non-Executive Director at WWF-UK, a leading environmental organisation, where her work focuses on protecting the rights and needs of communities most affected by climate change.
As an Executive Ubuntu Coach, Dorcas brings a transformational, humanistic approach to leadership development, grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are.” She partners with both individuals and groups, guiding them to align with their inner values and collective purpose to enhance leadership effectiveness and authenticity.
An advocate of holistic wellbeing, Dorcas enjoys yoga, the arts, and spending time in nature. Her upcoming book, The Street Clinic, will be published by Picador Macmillan in February 2026.
Professor Kevin Browne is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist and registered practitioner. His areas of expertise are concerned with the psychological assessment of violent and sexual offenders and their victims, the assessment of online sexual offences, assessment of parents and their children, the assessment of risk for antisocial and violent criminal behaviour in young people, including knife crime. He is invited regularly to act as an expert witness and produce psychological reports for both Criminal and Family Courts in the UK. In relation to the development of delinquency and criminality, his research on the harmful effects of growing up in residential care institutions and the use of substitute family care to ameliorate adverse outcomes is internationally recognised.