Deputy mayor: 'We need to do more' to understand young people

Alison Lowe says: "We need to understand what it is young people need us to do better for them"

There is "much more" to do to prevent young people dying due to violent crime, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing has said.

Alison Lowe added that gaining a better understanding of how teenagers use social media could be a key part of efforts to tackle youth violence.

She said: "We need to understand what it is young people need us to do better for them, they're obviously frightened and think other young people are carrying knives, so they carry knives to keep themselves safe. We're not doing enough as a system."

Lowe's comments come as the region's crime plan is published on Monday by West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin.

The plan will include a West Yorkshire-wide serious violence strategy that involves talking to young people, Lowe said.

"We as adults are so far removed from the reality of their day-to day-lives, we do not understand the power of social media, we do not understand the fear young people are experiencing, therefore we can't put in place the right mechanisms, activities and strategies to address those things.

"Those conversations are going to be the way we will finally engage young people, get them to trust us so we finally understand what life is like for them."

Plans to prevent "at risk" boys and men being exploited by drug gangs will also be discussed as a priority part of the new policing and crime plan set to be discussed by Mayor Brabin on Monday.

Reducing violence against women and girls, combatting knife crime and ending road deaths also feature.

Overall crime, excluding fraud, fell by 9% in West Yorkshire in the 12 months up to September 2024.

Drug offences rose by 4% in West Yorkshire in the 12 months up to September 2024

But while many types of crime reduced, instances of shoplifting, robbery and sexual offences rose.

Drug offences also increased by 4%, despite police efforts to crack down on county lines operations, where illicit substances are ferried out of cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

In November, six men were jailed for their work in a gang which ferried drugs from Leeds to Scarborough.

Ms Brabin said serious violence remained a "scourge" both "locally and nationally".

She said: "We are known for our innovative approach to tackling male violence towards women and girls.

"But it is crucial that we also work together to support vulnerable men and boys and clamp down on issues like gang violence and knife crime."

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