On Thursday 24th April, our Criminology students were fortunate to welcome guest speaker Bradley, a Serious Youth Violence Practitioner based at a London hospital. Bradley spoke powerfully about the devastating impact of knife crime on young people, sharing insights drawn from his frontline work.

In his role, Bradley supports children and young adults admitted to hospital due to incidents involving youth violence and exploitation. These traumatic experiences often come with wider challenges, including disrupted education, mental health struggles and even homelessness.

“My goal is to stabilise and address the individual’s immediate concerns while they navigate a traumatic period,” he explained. “By the time they are discharged back into the community, the aim is to ensure they have a stronger support network, ultimately reducing the risk of re-hospitalisation and a return to the same lifestyle.”

Students were deeply engaged throughout the session, gaining valuable knowledge about the broader social issues that contribute to youth violence—and the critical importance of early intervention and ongoing support.

We are incredibly grateful to Bradley for taking the time to speak with our students and for the vital work he does every day. His visit offered a unique opportunity to learn directly from someone working on the front line of one of today’s most pressing social issues.