Cuts in youth services blamed for the rise in youth crime.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.c...ls-cut-youth-services

Is it totally unfair to blame the deep reductions in youth service budgets, for the increase in gang crime?

According to a Professor John Pitts who stated,

/// My anxiety is that those gang members who were in school will now be on the streets.///

Is he saying that the only way to prevent gang violence is to take these youngsters 'under the wing' 24/7.

Even if there was round the clock youth services, it still would not prevent 'Youth Gang Crime'.

[New Judge]

Indeed it would not, AOG.

Professor Pitts’ contention does not hold water (“...cities were likely to experience increased crime as the holidays begin.”) There may be an increase in petty crime and anti-social behavior as a result of the holidays (so what’s new?). However, the serious knife crime referred to will not be so affected. Much of it is committed by people who do not attend school. In fact the two cases mentioned in the article were committed during term time.

The implication of The Good Professor’s report is that if we open enough youth clubs serious crime committed by young people will disappear and this is plainly nonsense.

[boxtops]

They haven't helped - youth clubs in the daytime are being closed, leaving youngsters aimless on the streets (particularly now it's the school holidays).

[Thunderchild]

well if we went a bit old fashioned and got hobbies back young people would have something to do and would learn something too preparing them to become better and more productive adults. The average mental age of this country is dropping because people are lazy minded as well as lazy bodily.

I like to keep active, design stuff, make stuff, achieve things and learn new things, i don't even have time to think about committing crime

[rov1100]

We are reaping the rewards of the intervention of the woolly minded liberals who said that punishment or discipline either in the home or at school is wrong. This position has not changed so society will carry on the same as before.

[sp1814]

"However, the serious knife crime referred to will not be so affected. Much of it is committed by people who do not attend school."

Nonsense.

[whiskeryron]

Bring back National Service in one form or another, teach 'em some discipline.
Ron.