Plan B Forum

A childhood rite of passage – the playground fight – could be on the verge of dying out, according to new figures which have revealed a sharp fall in the number of children injured in violent incidents.

A study of violence-related hospital admissions showed a significant decline in incidents involving children and young people.

One major factor in the trend is thought to be a change in childhood lifestyles, with less time spent outside and more youngsters occupying themselves with computer games and other sedentary activities.

Amid a general decline in violent crime incidents treated at hospitals in England and Wales there was a particularly sharp reduction of 18 per cent among under-10s year-on-year.

Incidents among adolescents aged 11 to 17 also saw an 18 per cent fall.

In 2010, 11-17s went to A&E after a violent incident about 1.1 times a year per 100 population, but last year after four consecutive years of falling numbers the figure stood at about 0.5 a year. Under-10s followed a similar pattern.


Prof Jon Shepherd, a maxillofacial surgeon responsible for compiling the annual figures said: “It seems plausible that computer games and social media are an explanation for this.

“It may be that they are spending less time out of doors and more time indoors, and this fits with the issues of childhood obesity and lack of exercise.”

Other reasons for the fall could include better safeguarding procedures in schools and social services, he added.

Prof Shepherd said: “It seems possible that this is related to children being taken to school in cars more and children being out in the street less.”

Prof Shepherd also warned the economic recovery could lead to a new wave of violent crime.

He said that alcohol consumption will increase as the economy improves, increasing the number of alcohol-fuelled punch-ups.

The Maryland parents investigated for letting their young children walk home by themselves from a park were found responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect in a decision that has not fully resolved their clash with authorities over questions of parenting and children’s safety.

Danielle and Alexander Meitiv hoped the nationally debated case — which has lit up social media and brought a dozen television film crews to their Silver Spring home — would be dismissed after a two-month investigation by Montgomery County Child Protective Services.

But the finding of unsubstantiated child neglect means CPS will keep a file on the family for at least five years and leaves open the question of what would happen if the Meitiv children get reported again for walking without adult supervision.

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