Older teenagers in London “living in fear”

Tens of thousands of older teenagers in London feel unsafe in the city – and thousands run away from home every year, according to new research by The Children’s Society.

The charity highlighted the figures as it prepares to unveil a network of services across the capital to tackle the risks facing the city’s vulnerable young people.

In a survey by the charity, whose new London hub will launch on 2 July, a third of 16- and 17-year-olds told The Children’s Society they feel unsafe in common public areas like bus stations, train stations, or car parks – that’s equivalent to 61,000 young people across the city.

Almost one in five (19%) reported feeling unsafe in youth or after-school clubs. And 7% say they even feel unsafe in their own home – twice the level of the rest of the country.

Constant access to the Internet and social media is creating new pressures and risks, with one in eight (12%) now reporting that they do not feel safe online.

It is clear from the figures – from a UK-wid...