The problem of angry girls

The shocking story of an 87-year-old woman being punched in the face by two teenaged girls, when she (politely suggested) that they end their stand-off with a bus driver is perhaps indicative of a growing trend for female violence and a simmering rage that drives it.

One in five of all violent crimes and some 35 per cent of domestic violence reported to the England and Wales Crime Survey involved a female perpetrator. Figures from 2011 show that female violent crime rose by 12 per cent in the previous five years.

Another report found that violence is the most common first-time crime for a third of girl offenders. Statistics from the Youth Justice Board show that the number of violent offences committed by female juveniles has risen by 28 per cent from 8,702 in 2002/03 to 11,155 in 2009/10. The BBC is just about to air a documentary on the subject, which lends further credence to the idea that this is a trend that cannot and should not be ignored.