'To kill another person requires a level of anger sufficient to carry out the act combined with an absence of empathy or compassion for the victim. In terms of the inability to empathise, the work of the anti-violence charity Wave Trust ... would suggest that the ability to empathise with other human beings is largely developed in the first three to four years. And yet the Wave Trust has shown that, in terms of resources, this is still the time in a child's life during which the state spends the least.

— Jon Rouse, Chief Executive, London Borough of Croydon

6 Core Messages

1. Violence is a behaviour that is caused and can be prevented.

2. Propensity for violence develops mainly through maltreatment before age 3. Family influence is the key factor.

3. Environment plays a major role in shaping the structure of the infant brain – and determining propensity.

4. Maltreatment of children has long-term consequences for their mental and physical health.

5. Attunement between parent and infant produces the key antidote to internal propensity.

6. Prevention does work and there is a powerful economic case for it.

6 Core Messages

Our Findings