London violent crime is a ‘public health issue’ a news bulletin on the BBC News on 19 September. The new initiative by the Mayer of London which echoes an approach used in Scotland that showed homicide rate in Scotland being halfed between 2007-2017. I agree that such initiatives will reduce the impact of current waves of crimes but will not prevent future violence, rising mental health problems, child poverty in its widest sense and the lost generation unless we as society, government and families deal with the nub of the problem. Although we started to highlight the early years as a priority in the last 2 years this is not enough, too late and not comprehensive. Mounting evidence from epigenetic research in recent years highlight the importance of prepuberty and other stages of childhood. Hence we need a comprehensive child prioritisation strategy that give children of all ages a priority in policy development and investment that is so crucial it should be enshrined in law. No more austerity cuts to children’s services from health, to social care , to children’s development and education if we are really serious about sustaining future generations, reducing child poverty and reducing crime and violence through better mental and physical health and well being and better education.

21 Sep 2018 14:42