The number of teenagers killed violently in the UK has fallen by 30% in one year, BBC research has found.

The BBC teen homicide database, which records murder and manslaughter cases, shows fifty one 10 to 19-year olds lost their lives in 2009 compared with 72 in 2008.

Most 2009 victims were male and half of all those killed were stabbed. Twelve were beaten and two were shot.

Police say anti-knife crime tactics explain the drop, but critics argue it is too early to make such conclusions.

The BBC News website’s database shows that of the fifty one young people killed so far this year, the youngest was just 10 years old and the oldest 19. The most common ages of victims were 17 and 18.

Most of the victims were white and male – just nine of the fifty one were girls.

While England saw the vast majority of cases, Scotland had eight, Wales three and Northern Ireland two. Of all cities, London had most deaths – with 13 of its teenage residents losing their lives to violence. However, this is a significant drop from 26 in 2007 and 29 in 2008.

Source: BBC

Chris, Web Designer at Input Youth