This critical textbook looks beyond the immediate data on knife crime to try and make sense of
what is a global phenomenon. Yet it especially explores why the UK in particular has become so
preoccupied by this form of interpersonal often youthful violence. The book explores knife
crime in its global and historical context and examines crime patterns including the second
wave of knife crime in Britain. It then incorporates new empirical data to explore key themes
including: police responses popular narratives and the various interests benefiting from the
'knife crime industry'. It captures the voices of those impacted by knife crime including young
people community leaders and youth work practitioners. Drawing on criminology sociology
cultural studies and history the book argues that the problem is firmly located at the
intersection of a series of concerns about class race gender and generationthat are a product
of British history and its global past. It seeks to trace the several roots of the contemporary
knife crime 'epidemic' ultimately to propose newer and alternative strategies for responding
to it. It encourages a critical engagement with this subject with the inclusion of some
learning exercises for undergraduate students and above in the the social sciences whilst also
speaking to researchers policy-makers and practitioners.
