The review examined research on young people aged 5 to 18. It focused on how different aspects of poverty relate to both violent and non-violent crime. It drew on studies from the UK and similar countries and also identified poverty-reducing interventions that YEF could evaluate for their impact on violence. Key takeaways from the review include:

Poverty is a risk factor: It is associated with a small increased risk of crime and violence, though the review could not establish it as a direct cause.

Different types of poverty matter: Financial problems (such as food insecurity, debt and financial worries) showed the strongest link, followed by low income, neighbourhood deprivation and low socioeconomic status.

Violence vs. non-violence: Neighbourhood deprivation was most linked to non-violent crime, while low income was most linked to violent crime.

Family structure plays a role: Higher income was more protective for children in single-parent families, while lower socioeconomic status posed greater risk.

Although the review cannot confirm poverty as a cause, it highlights how different forms of poverty affect children’s risks in different ways and identifies gaps in the evidence base.