'Children as young as 9 carrying knives' - expert's one-word reason for Birmingham crisis

In parts of Birmingham seven in 10 kids live in poverty - and kids are turning to crime to make money

High levels of poverty in Birmingham is forcing children as young as nine to carry knives as they engage in criminal activity to 'survive.' Anti-knife campaigner, Malachi Nunes from West Bromwich, works with children from across the region who display challenging behaviours and are at risk of criminal exploitation.

Malachi said children were being pushed towards gangs due to economic hardship at home, which was putting young lives at risk. In his work, he has mentored kids still in primary school who say they are carrying knives for their own safety, a decision Malachi believes stems from poverty at home.

Child poverty has reached a 'record high' in parts of the country - with some areas of Birmingham ranked among the worst in the UK. In Birmingham as a whole, 40% of children aged 0-15 are living below the breadline - with some parts of the city experiencing much higher rates.

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.

READ MORE: Child poverty rates mapped - as some areas of Birmingham among worst in country

Malachi Nunes told BirminghamLive about one child he mentored who first started carrying a knife when he was just nine-years-old. "He was stuck between a poverty-stricken home and a gang, which a number of his siblings were also involved with," Malachi Nunes said.

"His mother wasn't working, she had a drug problem, and the family had no money - poverty was a major driver in his decision to carry a knife. He joined the gang to get money and help his family - but then he needed that protection.

"He was only nine-years-old, but he had this mentality of survival - he shouldn't have to be worried about things like that, but poverty creates these feelings."

Want to take action? - Contact your MP!

While Malachi believes that poverty is the root cause of youth violence, he says the issue is not helped by the financial situation at Birmingham City Council with youth services under threat from severe cuts. Birmingham councillors have warned more and more young people are being manipulated and coerced into committing crimes, with one claiming the practice had become "more organised, violent and deadly."

One young person who knows just how quickly young people can become trapped in a cycle of crime is Kyla James, a 17-year-old from Rowley Regis in the Black Country. Kyla said she knew many of her peers, from poorer backgrounds, had begun committing crime whilst at school.

Kyla said youth services in poorer areas of the city were vital to help keep young people on the right path. "We need more spaces for young people to do things for themselves so they know that they don’t need to go out onto the streets to make money," she said.

"Supporting young people to set up businesses could help, and they need a safe place to be - especially in poorer areas. So many young people have stressful home lives, so places where they can come and hang out are so important."