Plymouth sees rise in violence among girls

Plymouth has seen an increase in the number of teenage girls being violent and aggressive. There are now almost twice the number of girls in the criminal justice system compared to pre pandemic times.

Police say girl-on-girl violence is becoming more prevalent and there are more female offenders under 25 who are committing these crimes.

Plymouth City Council’s children, young people and families scrutiny panel heard that the city centre, Whitleigh and Plympton were hotstops for female violence and it appeared to be pre mediated as a result of peer pressure. The average age of the girls involved was 15.

Violent acts were often posted on social media increasing the shame felt by the victims. Girls arrested were frequently reported as saying they were threatened themselves and if they did not assault someone they would be assaulted themselves.

The Plymouth Argyle Trust has been commissioned by the Community Safety Partnership to work with schools in the three key areas of the city, raising awareness of the consequences for both the victims and the perpetrators.

Face to face meetings between the individuals involved can also be arranged through the Restorative Justice Make A Mends service.

The rise in violent behaviour by girls is being flagged up as high priority by Plymouth City Council who said that more girls involved in incidents were being reported as missing increasing their risk of exploitation.

Children engaging in anti social behaviour or violence were very often already involved with exploitation or at high risk or being targeted by particular people, the panel heard.

The council works with the police, youth justice service and others partners to reduce crime and exploitation and an “holistic” approach was being taken to those who commit offences.

Rather than looking at the ASB it was about looking at the child’s “whole world experience” and identifying what the unmet need was that was driving those behaviours, panel members were told.

The council’s cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Jemima Laing (Lab, Stoke ) said over the past two years the council had worked with the child centred policing team and made “great strides” in trying to identify children at risk of sexual and physical exploitation and offering these children interventions as well as targeting adults who perpetrate these crimes.

She said there were 17 active ‘county lines’ drug lines coming into the city by organised crime groups, targeting children’s vulnerability to exploit and criminalise them.

Daily intelligence meetings were held between partners including health and education giving updates and information on missing or homeless children or those brought to custody.

The police force and children’s services also operate the Philomena Protocol which involves foster carers and residents placement staff updating in real time information about a child in care’s peer group, preferred locations and items of clothing which can be shared so they can be located and safeguarded as quickly as possible should they go missing.