Ways to be sure the kids are alright

Youth violence has become a national puzzle. Everyone is searching for the solution, but before it can be found we have to understand why teenagers are spilling blood on Britain's streets.

There are two types of children involved - “imitators” and “initiators”. The initiator child learns violence in their abusive or neglectful family home. Deprived of loving relationships, the part of the brain responsible for control, empathy and anticipating the consequences of their actions does not develop healthily. Deep in the emotional centres of their brain, traumatic memories of abuse are stored - lethally unprocessed - that later generate bad behaviour and agitated energy. This type of child is “thermostatically impaired” - they cannot “regulate” their emotions and energy. Without calm they cannot learn or self-sooth.