City St George's University Tackles Teenage Abuse with New Funding

May 25, 2026

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Young people are facing increasing rates of abuse in their relationships, and now experts at City St George’s, University of London are joining forces with police to tackle the issue head-on.

Uncovering Hidden Dangers

The groundbreaking project, funded by the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, will use advanced data science and insights from young people to identify and prevent abuse in teenage relationships. Frontline workers often lack the tools to spot these issues.

This new research aims to change that. It will analyse police data to find incidents involving under-16s that have gone unnoticed.

AI Meets Lived Experience

Researchers will combine artificial intelligence, specifically Natural Language Processing (NLP), with anonymised police data and crucial input from young people with lived experience. This blend of technology and personal stories is key to understanding the problem.

Dr Ruth Weir, Deputy Director of the Violence & Society Centre at City St George’s, explained the urgency. "We want to give those working with young people something they currently don't have: a clear picture of what risk and harm looks like in teenage relationships," she said. "We cannot assume that the risks and harms of domestic abuse are the same in teenage relationships as in adult relationships."

Deputy Chief Constable Katy Barrow-Grint of Gloucestershire Constabulary added, "We know there's a problem and that some children are displaying worrying behaviours within their relationships, but what we don't yet understand is the full scale of the issue." She highlighted alarming figures, noting that "around 4% of our strangulation cases involve 13- to 15-year-olds."

The project will provide vital guidance for police, social workers, teachers, and health professionals. It's designed to be rolled out nationally, helping to safeguard young people and prevent abuse before it escalates.

Author

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

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