‘Early intervention’ to tackle school violence

Videos of school fights shared on social media could damage children’s future prospects, Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley has warned, as the government considers early interventions to deal with delinquent behaviour.

He told a Crime Awareness Month activity at St Stephen’s Primary School he was concerned by a growing number of violent altercations involving young people, particularly those being circulated on social media.

He said: “I think that it will have to be an interministerial approach, and yes, I have some concerns about it. I have concerns about adults who believe that it is enjoyable to just [watch] innocent children fighting.”