'Young people and violence', the theme often gives rise to concern and heated discussions. Media, politicians and scientists pay extensive attention to the phenomenon. Young people are considered to be the main concern in this frame. Moreover, the conviction that young people are becoming increasingly violent is widely accepted. Policy-makers have taken a host of preventative and repressive measures in response to this social concern. The opinion that youth violence has increased in recent years, however, is rarely founded on a scientific analysis. Moreover the opinion and perception of young people is rarely and in some cases not at all included in the current debate.

In the framework of the research project on 'Youth and violence' the Peace Institute commissioned researchers of K.U. Leuven to gather all the recent available data on youth violence. In addition to a critical view on the existing available figures, new in-depth analyses have been carried out on the figures of the Youth Research Platform (JOP) and the National Safety Monitor. This quantitative chapter paints a picture of the size, the nature and the development of this issue. Moreover the results of new qualitative research into the attitudes and perception of young people themselves have also been incorporated. As a result the study will constitute a significant addition to the available research.