Driven by 'Fear': London Knife Crime at Four Year High

Violent crimes, which involve knives, guns, sexual assaults, robbery, or all four, have risen year on year, increasing four percent between 2015 and 2016 — and by 20 percent between 2012 and 2013.

More than a quarter of all victims are young women or girls and it appears knives have become — and are increasingly deployed as the weapon of choice.

'Out of Fear'

The report, published by the Police and Crime Committee, suggests that the reason young people carry knives "appears to be a belief that they need to be prepared to defend themselves."

"If a serious incident occurs, there needs to be a concerted effort by the police and other agencies to reassure young people that they are safe," the report says.

​It's also believed that more and more young people are becoming embroiled in the world of crime and drugs and the black economy fueling the increase in youth violence.

The London borough of Lambeth which includes Clapham and Brixton, had the highest number of youths under 24 years old caught up in knife crime with 110 youths, according to the report.

​However, only five percent of knife crimes were associated with gang violence across London, which is a "significant" development according Steve O'Connell, one of the report's authors and head of the Police and Crime Committee (PCC).

"This is significant because not many people realize that if you only look at gang violence you won't make much difference to what is happening with knife crime."

Under-reporting of violent crimes is also a problem, with many experts predicting the official number is just the tip of the iceberg. 

​Dozens of officers, vehicles, police dogs and a helicopter were deployed to deal with the mass brawl which involved teenagers, many in their school uniform, fighting with a rival school. Witnesses claimed the teenagers were armed with baseball bats and knives.