I was horrified by the death of a family man, defending his property, kicked to death by a bunch of thugs and I truly hope they get a long sentence so that they can reflect on their behaviour and its long-term implications.
However, I feel that as a society we all have a role to play in the reformation of such citizens. My basic reaction is to say 'throw away the key and let them rot' but I am not sure that will cure the problem. Why do we have so many wild gangs roaming our streets willing to kill innocent people who dare to challenge their behaviour? It is all too easy to blame the current government but I think the problem goes back much further. For example, during Mrs Thatcher's time we had riots in cities across the country. There were thousands of people on the streets, setting fire to buildings and vehicles, throwing home-made petrol bombs at police and looting shops. Where did all that come from?
A lot of young people feel alienated from their own communities. For example, following last week's story, some of my students were stopped by police and taken home simply for hanging round on the corner of a parade of shops. They were told that 'the old people get scared if they see you lot hanging around and we get a lot of earache about you being out on the streets at night' The were innocent of any crime and yet simply being seen on the streets in a gang was seen as threatening. How long before real anger sets in and they go out looking for trouble for the hell of it?
I'm certainly not defending those scumbags. I'm just trying to pose some long-term solutions. I fully agree with the man's poor wife who expressed her frustration at parents who will not take responsibility for bringing their children up properly.
Re Gordon Brown - I think we need to let him get his teeth into the job and not meet every issue thrown up by the media with a knee-jerk reaction.
