Available open access digitally under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

For many children and young people, Britain is a harmful society in which to grow up. This book contextualizes the violence that occurs between a small number of young people within a wider perspective on social harm.

Aimed at academics, youth workers and policy makers, the book presents a new way to make sense of this pressing social problem. The authors also propose measures to substantially improve the lives of Britain’s young people in areas ranging from the early years to youth services and the criminal justice system.

Luke Billingham is a youth and community worker at Hackney Quest and Research Associate at The Open University.

Keir Irwin-Rogers is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University.