Screening tool development to prevent violence
Project: Research
Project status
Finished
Description
This project supports the development of an early-stage screening framework to identify children and young people at heightened vulnerability to serious youth violence (SYV), criminal exploitation (CE), and related harms within Luton. Led by the Safer Young Lives Research Centre at the University of Bedfordshire, the work responds to a commissioning brief from the Luton Youth Partnership Service to explore how risk can be recognised earlier within school, community, and early help contexts.
The project adopts a mixed-methods design that integrates (1) qualitative insights from local young people, (2) practitioner perspectives from across youth partnership services, (3) a synthesis of national and international research evidence, and (4) quantitative analysis of local Youth Justice Partnership data (n=232). Together, these data sources provide a locally grounded and evidence-informed understanding of how vulnerability to violence and exploitation develops and is experienced.
Findings demonstrate that early vulnerability does not present as a single risk factor or linear pathway, but rather emerges through the accumulation of pressures, disruptions, and unmet needs across multiple domains, including family context (e.g. poverty, housing instability, parental capacity), education (e.g. exclusion, disengagement, unmet neurodevelopmental needs), peer and community environments (e.g. harmful peer norms, local tensions, perceived lack of safety), and digital contexts. The analysis highlights the importance of early, observable, and contextually grounded indicators—particularly those visible before exclusion, criminalisation, or crisis.
The project identifies limitations in existing risk assessment approaches, which are typically applied at later stages and rely on overt behavioural or intelligence-led indicators. It also confirms a significant evidence gap: there is currently no validated UK tool designed for early identification of vulnerability to serious violence or exploitation in primary or lower secondary-aged children.
In response, the project proposes a conceptual framework for an early-stage screening tool, rooted in safeguarding principles rather than prediction. The framework emphasises cumulative and pattern-based indicators, developmental sensitivity, and the role of professional judgement. It is designed to function as a prompt for early recognition and response, supporting proportionate intervention and strengthening protective capacity, rather than categorising children as “high risk” or predicting future offending.
The work provides an evidence-informed foundation for the next phase of development, including tool design, piloting, and evaluation, and contributes to wider debates on early identification, ethical safeguarding practice, and systems responses to serious youth violence and exploitation.
The project adopts a mixed-methods design that integrates (1) qualitative insights from local young people, (2) practitioner perspectives from across youth partnership services, (3) a synthesis of national and international research evidence, and (4) quantitative analysis of local Youth Justice Partnership data (n=232). Together, these data sources provide a locally grounded and evidence-informed understanding of how vulnerability to violence and exploitation develops and is experienced.
Findings demonstrate that early vulnerability does not present as a single risk factor or linear pathway, but rather emerges through the accumulation of pressures, disruptions, and unmet needs across multiple domains, including family context (e.g. poverty, housing instability, parental capacity), education (e.g. exclusion, disengagement, unmet neurodevelopmental needs), peer and community environments (e.g. harmful peer norms, local tensions, perceived lack of safety), and digital contexts. The analysis highlights the importance of early, observable, and contextually grounded indicators—particularly those visible before exclusion, criminalisation, or crisis.
The project identifies limitations in existing risk assessment approaches, which are typically applied at later stages and rely on overt behavioural or intelligence-led indicators. It also confirms a significant evidence gap: there is currently no validated UK tool designed for early identification of vulnerability to serious violence or exploitation in primary or lower secondary-aged children.
In response, the project proposes a conceptual framework for an early-stage screening tool, rooted in safeguarding principles rather than prediction. The framework emphasises cumulative and pattern-based indicators, developmental sensitivity, and the role of professional judgement. It is designed to function as a prompt for early recognition and response, supporting proportionate intervention and strengthening protective capacity, rather than categorising children as “high risk” or predicting future offending.
The work provides an evidence-informed foundation for the next phase of development, including tool design, piloting, and evaluation, and contributes to wider debates on early identification, ethical safeguarding practice, and systems responses to serious youth violence and exploitation.
Layman's description
This project looks at how we can spot early signs that children and young people may be vulnerable to serious violence or exploitation—before things reach crisis point.
Working with the Luton Youth Partnership Service, researchers at the University of Bedfordshire gathered evidence from several sources: young people in Luton, local practitioners, existing research studies, and data about young people who have had contact with youth justice services.
The findings show that risk does not come from one single factor. Instead, vulnerability builds up over time through a combination of pressures in a child’s life—for example family stress, poverty, difficulties in school, problems with peer relationships, feeling unsafe in their community, or unmet support needs such as mental health or neurodevelopmental needs.
Importantly, many of the warning signs we typically associate with serious violence (such as gang involvement or offending) appear quite late. This means opportunities to offer early help are often missed.
The project therefore focuses on identifying earlier, more subtle signs that practitioners might notice in everyday settings like schools. These include things like repeated school disruption, relationship difficulties, unmet needs, or increasing reliance on peers rather than trusted adults.
Rather than trying to predict which children will become involved in violence, the project proposes a different approach: a screening tool that helps professionals notice emerging concerns early and respond with support. The aim is to strengthen safeguarding and provide help at the right time, rather than label or stigmatise young people.
This work provides the foundation for developing and testing a practical tool that can be used locally to improve early intervention and better support children and families.
Working with the Luton Youth Partnership Service, researchers at the University of Bedfordshire gathered evidence from several sources: young people in Luton, local practitioners, existing research studies, and data about young people who have had contact with youth justice services.
The findings show that risk does not come from one single factor. Instead, vulnerability builds up over time through a combination of pressures in a child’s life—for example family stress, poverty, difficulties in school, problems with peer relationships, feeling unsafe in their community, or unmet support needs such as mental health or neurodevelopmental needs.
Importantly, many of the warning signs we typically associate with serious violence (such as gang involvement or offending) appear quite late. This means opportunities to offer early help are often missed.
The project therefore focuses on identifying earlier, more subtle signs that practitioners might notice in everyday settings like schools. These include things like repeated school disruption, relationship difficulties, unmet needs, or increasing reliance on peers rather than trusted adults.
Rather than trying to predict which children will become involved in violence, the project proposes a different approach: a screening tool that helps professionals notice emerging concerns early and respond with support. The aim is to strengthen safeguarding and provide help at the right time, rather than label or stigmatise young people.
This work provides the foundation for developing and testing a practical tool that can be used locally to improve early intervention and better support children and families.
Project Information
Project Type
ResearchProject Managed By
Time Period
15/02/2025 – 14/02/2026Status
FinishedFunding Details
Risk assessment tool development to prevent violenceAward
FundersAmounts
Youth Partnership Service
75461 GBPSustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 Good Health and Well
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities