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Just four stories, among many others in the Sunday papers, make you wonder what our bit of the world is coming to:
Five men aged between 16 and 19 are injured in a single gun and knife fight.
A 17-year old is charged with a fatal stabbing.
A 17-year old is stabbed to death.
A 19-year old is arrested after two men are taken to hospital with serious facial injuries.
I don’t profess to know why the youths of today seem to be so violent, but among the many theories posited are a lack of respect and discipline, the absence of National Service, the influence of television, violent films and so-called war games, drugs and alcohol, readily available weapons, cash handouts to those who don’t want to work, etc., etc. You can doubtless add many others.
Have so many aspects of everyday life become too easy for those who do not want to work or who are just plain violent? Including prison?
Just a week ago, a Telegraph writer expressed the views stated by a long-term prisoner. He was most happy to be in prison. He was looked after in all respects, was well-fed, had access to a variety of recreational facilities, was secure and had no responsibilities. Yes, he was very happy in prison and was also prepared to commit further crimes to make sure he was returned there.
Maybe there is a lesson here. Don’t make prison quite so comfortable for some offenders. Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted boot camps for young offenders?
.
Just four stories, among many others in the Sunday papers, make you wonder what our bit of the world is coming to:
Five men aged between 16 and 19 are injured in a single gun and knife fight.
A 17-year old is charged with a fatal stabbing.
A 17-year old is stabbed to death.
A 19-year old is arrested after two men are taken to hospital with serious facial injuries.
I don’t profess to know why the youths of today seem to be so violent, but among the many theories posited are a lack of respect and discipline, the absence of National Service, the influence of television, violent films and so-called war games, drugs and alcohol, readily available weapons, cash handouts to those who don’t want to work, etc., etc. You can doubtless add many others.
Have so many aspects of everyday life become too easy for those who do not want to work or who are just plain violent? Including prison?
Just a week ago, a Telegraph writer expressed the views stated by a long-term prisoner. He was most happy to be in prison. He was looked after in all respects, was well-fed, had access to a variety of recreational facilities, was secure and had no responsibilities. Yes, he was very happy in prison and was also prepared to commit further crimes to make sure he was returned there.
Maybe there is a lesson here. Don’t make prison quite so comfortable for some offenders. Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted boot camps for young offenders?
.
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