PODCAST · society

Knife Crime, Gangs & The Real Truth

by Knife Crime, Gangs & The Real Truth

Shahid:Bal, we’ve seen so much knife crime across London and the country—it’s everywhere in the news.What’s really going on? Why is this happening?Bal:Listen, Shahid—this ain’t about “bad kids.”It’s deeper than that. Knife crime is a symptom—it’s the end result of years of neglect.You’ve got young people growing up in poverty—cramped homes, broken families, no youth clubs, nothing to do but sit around and scroll online while the bills pile up at home.Schools? Underfunded.Mental health services? Non-existent for most of them.Meanwhile, everywhere they look—on Instagram, TikTok, wherever—it’s people flashing cash, watches, fast cars, like it’s all easy.Gangs come in and fill that gap.They offer what nobody else is offering—respect, protection, and yes—money.This isn’t about “choosing” violence. It’s survival for a lot of these kids.Shahid:Some people say, “They’ve got choices. No one’s forcing them.” What do you say to that?Bal:I say, swap shoes with them for one week—see