Crime, Justice & Extremism
Find out more about our topics relating to societal issues, authorities & the law, and attitudes & extremism
15th - 22th May 2026
Knife Crime Awareness week, running from 18th-24th May, aimed to shine a light on the important work being done to reduce knife crime in Britain and to start conversations about what else can be done to halt this devastating issue. April saw the launch of the Government’s “Protecting Lives, Building Hope” plan, which aims to halve knife crime in the UK by 2036. Based around four pillars of Support, Stop, Police, and End, the plan seeks to tackle the root causes of the issue, as well as improving the response of the criminal justice system. As the demographic most likely to be directly affected by knife crime, we wanted to know how young people viewed themselves and the role they could play when it comes to stemming the tide of knife violence on our streets.
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23rd - 30th January 2026
After Australia implemented a new social media ban for under-16s, the UK Government is considering doing the same. It is essential that young people’s opinions are included in the 3-month consultation, particularly as they will be the ones most affected by its introduction. At the end of January 2026, we asked our voters to debate the topic with their peers and decide whether they think it’s the best course of action to safeguard them against potential harm. Close to 70,000 young people between the ages of 5-16+ responded; this report explores the results of the vote, and adds vital context to the reasoning behind their results.
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03rd - 10th October 2025
For our 6th VoteTopic of the year, young people have been sharing their views on new proposals to tackle anti-social behaviour. As the Crime & Policing Bill makes its way through Parliament, a key question has emerged: should ‘Respect Orders’ apply to 16-year olds? First outlined in the Labour Party’s manifesto, Respect Orders aim to ban individuals who repeatedly act antisocially from town and city centres, or from drinking in public places such as high streets and parks. This report presents the results of the vote and reveals what young people think about these proposals and how they believe respect and responsibility should be encouraged in their communities.
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21st - 28th March 2025
Stacey Dooley’s Meet the Shoplifters on BBC Three inspired this VoteTopic, as it triggered a national conversation into the motivations behind shoplifting and why it has skyrocketed in recent years. Voters explored these reasons, alongside the measures currently in place to reduce instances of theft in shops, before deciding whether we need to go to greater lengths to prevent and punish the crime.
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23rd - 30th January 2025
Drones have multiple uses, ranging from a cool toy, a gadget for capturing great photography/videography, to a weapon of war. Whilst they’ve existed since the beginning of the 20th century, improved public accessibility and advancements made within the last two decades have increased their social visibility. We asked young people to consider the potential benefits and dangers of using drones for different purposes and whether more regulations need to be implemented to keep us all safe.
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04th - 11th October 2024
Recent headlines about knife crime have been frightening for teachers and young people alike. That's why this VoteTopic explored some of the statistics around knife crime in the UK, as well as the impact that the zombie knife and machete amnesty has had so far. They also considered their rights to safety, protection from violence, and fair treatment in the youth justice system as part of our assembly on the UNCRC.
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26th April - 03rd May 2024
In 2024, there have been a number of high-profile headlines about the increased sophistication of cyber attacks. For this VoteTopic, we asked voters to explore how seriously they take their cyber safety and encouraged them to build their understanding of the risks that come with being online.
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19th - 26th January 2024
Following much discussion in recent weeks, voters explored the Horizon scandal and the impact of ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office on public opinion. They considered what happened at the time, what has happened since, and whether financial reimbursement can make up for the poor treatment hundreds of
subpostmasters received.
13th - 20th October 2023
For this VoteTopic, we were fortunate enough to work with Facing History & Ourselves, which focuses on the news, impartiality, and differentiating fact from fiction. By exploring the ways that opinion is expressed in news reporting, voters reflected on how helpful personal views are in expanding our understanding of the wider world.
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19th - 26th May 2023
Following the rise in extreme right-wing views and the young people caught up in them, this VoteTopic took a closer look at some examples of extreme viewpoints and how they are persuasive to young people. Voters also had the opportunity to look at some of the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors that lead to extremism and radicalisation.
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03rd February - 10th February 2023
To mark Safer Internet Day on 7th February 2023, our voters explored the nature and purpose of influencer culture online. They discussed how influencers make money through advertising and social media and the effects this can have on the young people who consume their content. Finally, they decided whether influencers are responsible for negative online repercussions or if online harm is outside their level of control.
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