Is The Spate Of Knife Crime Linked To Poverty And Deprivation?

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/15/knife-crime-tory-austerity-sadiq-khan-london

We had very much poverty and deprivation at the end of WW2, but there was never the amount of killings by knife and guns that we see today.

[spathiphyllum]

Who is to blame is moot. Why it got where it has isn't. Yes it may always be someone elses fault... It usually is. No one asked for life. Not everyone had a easy upbringing. Some people are warped. Yes, that is how life just is.

[ummmm]

They don't share the wealth, Naomi.

[chelle7272]

//spath, If kids are doing drugs, they can afford to buy drugs. Where's the poverty? //

THe kids aren't necessarily buying drugs, they get given them when they are used by gangs to deliver and run the drugs, so that they get hooked and then become another customer, recruiting others, and so on.

[Old_Geezer]

Poverty and deprivation can leave youths idle if they get to the stage where they have no enthusiasm to continue to try to find a way out. So it creates the conditions for criminal activity. But that doesn't excuse folk from taking criminal activity up. I guess I'm saying it can be a factor, but not an excuse.

At the end of WW2 folk had been through so much I assume it was less likely they wouldn't do their utmost to help each other in the community and try to improve their own lot and the lot of the area as much has possible. I'm guessing again here but, there will be good social folk and poor social folk at all times, however the shared experience of war and coming together would have created a far different scenario. That community spirit has been gradually declining in each generation since.

[naomi24]

Ummmm, //They don't share the wealth, Naomi.//

Whose wealth do you want them to share? That of people who don't do drugs and work for what they have? Poverty my eye! You can bet your boots they all have their iphones and designer clothes.

[ummmm]

They sell drugs. They're hardly going to declare it.

[spathiphyllum]

Naomi, the article mentions poverty 3 times. No one else in the thread has.

But still facts are facts

"Among the statistics he relies upon are that every borough worst hit by violent youth offending had more children living in poverty than the average for London. "

Yes i agree some of the hoodlems you're thinking of will be wearing north face with Nike trainers etc.. etc.. i'm sure they have money from slinging smack on the streets. But some are honestly so poor, they'd rob a loaf of bread to feed their mum.

Gentrification etc..

[spathiphyllum]

Well.. obvs AOG has, but yeah odd focus IMO.

[teacake44]

No, nine times out of ten, linked to bad parenting.

[Old_Geezer]

The parents may be affected by the same conditions and had no enthusiasm to parent. Viscous circle. But it's still up to the individual to legally do better than the government safety net provides.

[spathiphyllum]

I see where Naomi is coming from. And to an extent she is right. I just think Naomi is ignoring the aspect (and statistics) that those in serious poverty will commit crime to keep themselves or family afloat, riding day to day.

[naomi24]

spath, //Naomi, the article mentions poverty 3 times. No one else in the thread has.//

I've mentioned poverty - because the article claims their lifestyle is linked to it. Absolute rubbish. Their lifestyle emanates from the culture and environment in which they were raised. If it didn't all kids from 'poor' backgrounds would behave as they do - and they don't.

[teacake44]

You can't get any more worse conditions than the end of ww2 OG

[naomi24]

spath, //those in serious poverty will commit crime to keep themselves or family afloat, riding day to day. //

Perhaps they should think about that dirty four letter word .....'Work'.

[spathiphyllum]

Naomi I agree. I see where you're coming from and what you mean. Do you know the average price of a north face sweatshirt?

[ummmm]

I think a lot depends on where they live.

[naomi24]

spath, I have no idea what a north face sweatshirt is.

[ummmm]

It's a label, like Nike or Adidas.

[naomi24]

ummmm, Right. Why is that relevant?

[spathiphyllum]

Because it is expensive, and 'they'(being, gangsters or want to be hoodlems) wear it.