Statistics and 'Why Kids Kill'

The documentary on channel 4, Why Kids Kill, was broadcast on 8/2/08. It was very usefull as it raised a lot of questions, though there are some flaws that i must bear in mind. In particular, i have to bear in mind that it is coming from the perspective of the reporter, or channel four. I therfore must be critical when watching it. It uses a lot of statistics in order to back up its points, however these are a mixture of official statistics interspersed with dispaches own research stats. This appears to make their research more credible. I would be interested in writing to the researcher in order to find out more about the research they carried out. This may help me with my own primary research.

The statisics given in this section of the program are:

• In 2006-07 there were 15 homocides and 8344 violent crimes (met police)
• 1 in 4 of violent crimes in Lambeth were commited by teengers (london borough of Lambeth crime and disorder audit 2004)
• 1 in 10 youths aged 11-15 has carried a knife (2004 survey of 11000 school children for government office for london)
• Knives were used in 2 out of 3 of teenage killings in the uk in 2007, (dispatches own research)
• 1 in 5 teenage killings in UK involved guns (dispatches own research)
• 1 in 17 london youths 11-15 has fired a hand gun (2004 survey of 31000 school children for government office for london)
• 1 in 4 london gun crimes commited by a youth ages 17 or under in 2007 (metropolitan police)
• A MAC-10 submachine gun is 'believed' to have been used by teenagers in 4 london killings in the past 14 months (press and police reports)
• 3 out of 5 teenage killings in the UK in 2007are believed to be gang related (dispaches own research)
• Youth gang members are 2 or 3 times more likely to be victims and perpertraitors of violent crime (average figures from current academic research)
• 1 in 10 london youths ages 11-15 belong to a gang with it's own territory (2004 survey of 11000 school children for government office for london)
• 8 years ago there were aprox 5 gangs in Lambeth, now there are aproximately 30
• It is thought that each large housing estate in Brixton has its own gang
• Robbery is the most common trigger for serious violence in 56% of cased (dispaches own research)
• Lambeth has more robberies thatn any other london borough
• 3 out of 5 teenage killings took place in 20% of the most deprived areas (dispaches own research)

I will conclude this later, i need food now :-)