One of the most depressing features of 2018, particularly in London although not confined to it, has been the spike in serious youth violence and the tragic deaths of so many young people as a result of knife crime.

Across the country we are becoming familiar with the story of the escalation of gang related violence, with increasingly horrific and dangerous weapons being used, and often fuelled by the drugs trade. The story of ‘county lines' and the abuse of younger, vulnerable people by this trade is increasingly part of the narrative.