YOUTH violence is now a public health issue of our times, NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach warned today.

In his last speech at the union’s conference before stepping down, Mr Roach urged the need for a plan to tackle a “national emergency.”

“Restricting pupils’ access to mobile phones would be a start, but we need much more than that,” he said.

He called for robust action against social media companies and for the government to step up its response as well.

Mr Roach reiterated the need for a plan that “focuses on preparedness, on reducing the risks of exposure to harmful content, and on building capacity and support locally, regionally and nationally.”

Reflecting on the racist violence which broke out last summer sparked by “extremists on social media,” he warned that the events “will not be the last unless proactive measures are taken.”