One in five young men have faced knife threats, survey finds

One in five young men have been threatened with a knife and almost half know someone it has happened to, a survey reveals today.

The poll of 1,000 young people gives a bleak impression of increasing street violence and fear, which has left 78% of those questioned afraid to walk the streets.

After a spate of fatal stabbings, many felt pressured to carry a weapon (15%) and more than a quarter (27%) knew at least one person their age who did so. Many (11%) had been asked to join a gang.

But almost two-thirds of the young people polled said they feel the media misrepresents the issues facing young people.