Why We Can’t Police Our Way Out of Youth Violence By Kerrie-Lyann Hirst
Across the UK, youth violence continues to be framed primarily as a policing issue. Knife crime, gang involvement, and anti-social behaviour are often met with increased enforcement, tougher sentencing, and reactive interventions. But what if we are focusing on the outcome, rather than the cause? Because behind many of these behaviours lies something less visible, but far more influential: trauma. Youth violence does not happen in isolation. It is often the result of a combination of factors: unstable environments, exposure to adversity, lack of safety, social exclusion, and limited access to consistent support. For many young people, what we see as “behaviour” is, in fact, a response to experiences they have not had the tools, space, or support to process. If we continue to treat youth violence purely as a behavioural issue, we will continue to miss the root cause. In my work with young people, trauma-informed practice, and communities, I have seen how quickly a lack of safety and stability can shape behaviour. What is often labelled as defiance is frequently a response to environments where trust has been broken, support has been inconsistent, and belonging has had to be found elsewhere. The Impact of Unaddressed Trauma Trauma is not always obvious. It is not always a single event. Often, trauma is cumulative, built over time through repeated experiences of instability, neglect, fear, or loss, and shaped not only by the event itself, but by what remains unresolved afterwards. The research is clear. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework has shown a strong relationship between early exposure to adversity and later outcomes, including involvement in violence, poor mental health, and reduced life opportunities. According to the landmark ACE Study (Felitti et al., 1998) which found that individuals exposed to four or more ACEs are significantly more likely to experience harmful long-term outcomes. Research has linked four or more ACEs to a 700% increase in alcoholism, an 1,100% increase in drug use, and substantially higher risks of mental ill health, violence involvement, and chronic disease later in life.
For young people growing up in environments where safety is not guaranteed, the nervous system adapts. Hypervigilance, reactivity, and a constant sense of threat can become the norm. In this state, decision-making is not driven by long-term thinking, but by immediate survival. This is not an excuse for harmful behaviour. But it is an explanation. And without understanding the “why”, our responses will continue to fall short. Beyond Awareness and Empathy In recent years, there has been growing awareness of trauma-informed practice. This has been an important step forward. But awareness alone is no longer enough. Empathy alone is no longer enough. If the current model were working, we would not still see the same patterns repeating across communities. Complex issues are never caused by one single factor. Youth violence is shaped by overlapping influences: individual experiences, family dynamics, peer relationships, community environments, poverty, exclusion, education, identity, and access to opportunity. If the causes are layered, the response must be layered too. Generational and Community Impact Trauma does not begin or end with one individual. It can be passed through families, across generations, and embedded within communities. In many of the communities most affected by youth violence, we see patterns of poverty, social exclusion, limited opportunity, and historical underinvestment. These are not isolated issues. They are interconnected, and they shape the environments young people grow up within. When we fail to acknowledge this, we risk placing responsibility solely on individuals without addressing the wider conditions that influence behaviour. We cannot continue to expect young people to change without taking responsibility for the environments that shape their choices. Belonging, Identity, and the Role of Community For many young people who have experienced trauma, relationships are not a secondary factor; they are central to identity.
Friendships, peer groups, and community connections often become the primary source of belonging, validation, and meaning. Where stability may be lacking elsewhere, these relationships can provide a sense of safety, loyalty, and recognition. This is why we often see strong loyalty within peer groups, even when those environments may carry risk. At its core, this is not simply about defiance; it is about a fundamental human need for connection, acceptance, and love. If we choose to understand this, then the question shifts. Instead of asking how we disrupt these connections, we should be asking how we create environments where those same needs can be met in safe, supportive, and empowering ways. Young people are not just shaped by their communities; they can and should help shape them too. When young people are given a voice, a sense of autonomy, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully, they begin to see themselves differently; not just as products of their environment, but as active participants within it. This creates purpose. And with purpose comes hope. When young people feel seen, heard, and valued within their communities, they are far more likely to show up differently, making choices based not only on survival, but on belonging, responsibility, and possibility. A Trauma-Informed Approach A trauma-informed approach must now move beyond language and into practice. It requires: • Environments where young people feel safe and understood • Professionals trained to recognise the impact of trauma on behaviour • Consistent, regulated support not just crisis intervention • Systems that prioritise prevention, not just response • Leadership and organisational cultures that recognise the harm systems can unintentionally pass forward, and take responsibility for changing it. That also means sustained investment in youth services, mental health support, trauma-informed schools, family intervention, and community spaces where young people can build identity, purpose, and safety before crisis point. Through Heal A Generation CIC, and in partnership with organisations supporting young people at risk of or involved in youth violence, I consistently see the same patterns: young
people navigating environments shaped by instability, unmet needs, and a lack of safe, regulated spaces. In my work, I have developed structured trauma-informed models that move beyond awareness and empathy, and into responsibility and practical implementation supporting both individuals and systems to create sustainable, long-term change. This is not about removing accountability. It is about making accountability possible. Because when individuals are supported to regulate, reflect, and understand their experiences, they are better able to make different choices. A Responsibility to Act Differently Ultimately, this comes down to responsibility. Not blame- but responsibility. Responsibility for the environments we create. Responsibility for the systems we maintain. Responsibility for what we pass forward. If we continue to respond to youth violence without addressing the conditions that create it, we will continue to see the same outcomes repeated. But if we are willing to take a different approach, one that acknowledges trauma, embraces complexity, and commits to real systemic change, then there is an opportunity to break the cycle. And in doing so, we create a positive ripple effect. Because the question is not just how we respond to youth violence. It is whether we are willing to address what is driving it in the first place.
About the Author.
Kerrie-Lyann Hirst is the founder of healagenerationcic.com, a UK-based community interest company focused on trauma-informed practice, prevention, and systems change. She works with individuals, communities, and organisations to explore how trauma impacts behaviour, relationships, and long-term social outcomes, with a particular focus on youth violence, generational trauma, and ethical leadership.
Alongside her work in trauma-informed practice, Kerrie-Lyann has over 15 years’ experience in strategic delivery, community projects, and large-scale event management across the UK and internationally. Her work centres on responsibility-led approaches that move beyond awareness and into practical, sustainable implementation.
