David Cameron called yesterday for everyone to become engaged in the fight
against social breakdown –– and declared that parents should be shamed into
bringing up their children properly.
In an impassioned speech written after watching the parents of Rhys Jones
speak on television about their loss, the Conservative leader said that it
was not up just to the Government to take responsibility for the state of
the nation, but all people.
“What is required is simply asking how many more parents have to bury their
children before we decide to choose a different path for our society,” he
said.
Calling for a new “social covenant” between individuals and the State, Mr
Cameron said sections of society needed to show responsibility. Parents who
did not know where their children were and what they were up to at night
should not only be helped to do their job properly, they should be shamed
into it, he said.
Magazines that saw the glorification of “getting wasted” as a circulation
booster, music companies that grew fat on the profits of exploiting black
youth, film and video-game directors who pushed the boundaries of acceptable
violence – all had a responsibility to change their ways.
Just as there was nothing inevitable about economic decline at the end of the
1970s, so there was nothing inevitable about social decline in the current
decade, Mr Cameron argued.
Speaking to a military audience in Oxfordshire, he said that the bravery and
sense of social responsibility shown by Rhys’s parents was “awe-inspiring”.
He said: “What his parents said yesterday, when they spoke of their loss of
their boy, of their child, and what he meant to them, was so powerful and
moving.”
Social responsibility meant that there needed to be a national recognition
that individuals had to play their part in creating a better society.
Strengthening families and communities was the most important part of a
three-dimensional approach to changing society, he said.
The Government had failed in creating a culture of respect and responsibility
where poor behaviour was matched with rewards, schools were undermined and
the tax and benefits system sent out signals that “undermine families,
penalise commitment and reinforce family and social breakdown”.
Mr Cameron asked why such a remorseless increase in gang culture had taken
place in Britain and why the availability of guns had become seemingly
endless. “What has become of our society when we have this spate of children
killing children?”
But politicians must “resolve not to fall back just into the usual response”,
he said. He went on: “But in putting forward what I’ve called the
three-dimensional approach – measures on criminal justice, measures on
policing and measures to strengthen society – let us recognise that it is
the last of these three – changing our society and, frankly, changing our
culture – that matters the most and where change is so desperately needed.
“So today I say that we should ask not just what we expect from our Government
in response to these dreadful crimes, but what do we expect from ourselves
and from society?”
He said the social covenant was more powerful than words. It was a “national
recognition that it is not just up to the Government to take responsibility
for the state of our nation, it is up to all of us.
“To me this is what social responsibility is all about. Not just sitting back
and saying that the Government must act, but all of us saying, ‘This is my
country, my society, my responsibility, and I must play my part.’
“It means parents taking responsibility for bringing up children properly. It
means schools playing their part in instilling discipline and good values.
“It means all of us recognising our obligations not just as parents but as
neighbours, as members of a community and understanding that those
obligations are as important as simply paying our taxes and obeying the law.
“It means understanding and acting on that age-old maxim that it takes a
village to raise a child. It means retailers stopping the sale of alcohol to
young teenagers. It means music companies, media companies, games
manufacturers, not just thinking, ‘What is my social responsibility as a
company in terms of the projects I support and the charities I back, good
and important as they are’, but asking, ‘What is the effect of the music I
produce, the games I market and the programmes I broadcast?’ ”
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, has asked the Association of Chief Police
Officers to review tactics used to tackle gun control. Ken Jones, the
association’s president, who is to lead the month-long review, said last
night that chief officers would be meeting communities affected by gun
crime. He added: “The police need their help because they are part of the
solution.”
Mr Jones said: “We must, all of us, now grip this problem and change things
for the better. That will take parents, neighbours and communities as well
as agencies like the Police Service, to face up to the challenge we have and
make insecure neighbourhoods secure once more.”
Although Ms Smith has promised that the Government will consider compelling
witnesses to gun crime to give evidence to the police and courts and make
membership of a gang an “aggravating factor” in sentencing, a consensus
appears to be emerging in Whitehall and the police that new legislation is
not the answer.
Instead officials believe that the solution will come only through tackling
some of the deep-rooted social problems of gang and gun culture in certain
parts of the country.
Social responsibility
“What is required is simply asking how many more parents have to bury their
children before we choose a different path . . .
“What has become of our society when we have this spate of children killing
children? . . .We should ask not just what we expect from our Government in
response to these dreadful crimes, but what do we expect from ourselves and
from society? .
“It means all of us recognising our obligations not just as parents but as
neighbours and understanding that those obligations are as important as
simply paying our taxes and obeying the law. . . .
“It means understanding and acting on that age-old maxim that it takes a
village to raise a child. . . .
The key to reducing violent crime and anti-social behaviour is to instil a culture where harming and harassing people is not only discouraged but is actively punished when it occurs. This should encompass punishing the perpetrators of victimisation in all contexts from domestic violence, bullying in schools, to harassment of people in the community. Violent imagery, including some computer games, music videos, and films, can exacerbate violent tendencies in many people with a predisposition to violence, but this must not be allowed to be used as an excuse for the actions of the individual.
Karl Chads, London, UK
Mr Cameron is right. However he has over looked one main issue. Yes it takes a village to raise a child but when society did function as we all wished would return, adults had some control over children. I help at a cricket club and if I contest anti-social behaviour the children tell me to 'F' off and remind me I cannot touch them as they will get me arrested. Several years ago when we had social responsibility a child would not think of such a response because of the fear of a clip around the ear so to speak. At school teachers were able to control anti-social behaviour by some form of physical punshment if required. Again this power has been removed. How can an adult / teacher consider attempting to contest such behaviour when the liberal laws that have been intoduced prevent society from taking the stance that the Politicians require. 20 years ago we did not need the Police involved in every incident in our society adults and teachers dealt with them in age old proven ways.
Andrew Tagg, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Just shows how out of touch Cameron is with the real World .The parents of these yobs are so ignorant and low life they would not be bothered by shaming,thats why the children are now a problem .The answer is hit the parents in the pocket by fining them and if they dont pay up take away the televisions videos mp3 players mobile phones and cars.Last year Cameron had the idea of Hugging Hoodies that did not work either.Zero Tolerance is the answer.
Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall
This rhetoric sounds convincing, but is naive and simplistic. It assumes that all bad kids have bad parents, which isn't the case. How does shaming the 5'2" single mum make her any more effective in controlling her 6'2" teenage son, when she is doing all she can but is powerless to stop him acting out?
Let's not allow the Tories to start frightening us into thinking they have answers when they don't. Let's leave that to the Daily Mail.
Gareth Philips, Manchester,
Also, another thing which I think is becoming an alarming issue and could well have contributed to these recent events and our problem with youths in general, is teen pregnancy and careless motherhood-many teens, in many areas get pregnant to live off of the government. They do not care about the babies they are raising, they just want a council flat to get away from the trauma that is their own family home. This is of course a generalisation, not all young mothers fall under this category, however, a large amount do-I personally know a few people in this category. If these parents do not care or have respect for their children-how is the child to learn to care for himself or respect himself? Most of the children on the streets are crying out for escapism and attention. Parents need to wake up and have babies responsibly. Parents also have the responcibility of what their child is exposed to-how does gun crime, sex and drugs enter the mind of an 11 year old I ask you.
Rachael, London,
Cameron nannying again. The problem is that neither parents, nor schools are allowed to discipline children effectively. Is that going to be different under a nanny like Cameron?
First get rid of Cameron, then elect a real Conservative as leader and then we can reform the country.
peter, London,
Perhaps this is the time to be looking at real alternatives to our criminal justice system which clearly don't appear to be working. It is all very well asking parents and communities to take a collective responsibility for the socialisation of our youth but in order to do that we should be allowing them to take part in the judicial processes and giving them some ownership of the problem.
Restorative Justice is certainly not a new concept and in many parts of the world (including New Zeland and Australia) it is proven to work, particularly for first time and youth offenders. Bringing the offenders, victims and the larger community together and giving them all an opportunity to contribute and resolve their issues will put responsibility back in the hands of those who are directly affected. Perhaps then we will see a change in parenting and social responsibility.
Miss Mitchell, Cornwall, England
I'm a mean old lady.
At least that's what kids say to me when I correct them in public or in front of their misbehaving friends.
The real trouble is - the passers-by and onlookers who don't support my actions when I am correcting youths. People look away or shrink in embarrassment when I collar a kid who is misbehaving. These people are as much at fault as the kids are. They ALLOW bad behaviour by not correcting kids in public.
Shame has all but disappeared in our society. (Except for the charades of public officials who, when caught in misdeeds, proclaim their shame and aplogize on the telly.) The sense of shame needs to be brought back and instilled in everyone. If you do something you know is wrong, you should feel shame. That sense certainly kept me in step when I was younger.
Chey Cobb, Broughton nr Biggar, Scotland
As a society we have entered a vicious cycle which can only go one way. - downwards.
David Cameron maybe the leader of the conservative party but to myself and much of the British population he is indistinguishable for war criminal and former prime minister Tony Blair.
Cameron, just like Blair supports the social engineering programmes in schools which have led us into this mess, Cameron can try to pass the blame to parents as much as he likes but it is he, along with all the other despicable politicians who are responsible for not allowing parents to instil discipline into children. It is the politicians we have created a culture where parents are worried about the legal consequences of issuing a child a punishment when they have done something wrong.
The responsibility does not only rest on the shoulder of parents, it also rests firmly on the shoulders of useless politicians such as David Cameron.
We should shame those politicians, not just the parents.
Richard Langford, Brighouse, UK
Its hard to trust David Cameron. Looking back over his previous speeches and observing news reports on him its difficult to know if he really means and believes what he preaches or its just a PR stunt to jump on the latest fears of the public.
Youth crime like this has been rampant for many many years since the fabric of the traditional family has been torn apart and ridiculed by groups who oppose it. Combine that with a media/entertainment industry who seems to promote amoral values and what do you expect to happen to the impressionable youth?
I really would like to believe Cameron when he talks about reversing the trend, but I just cant do it. (Hug a hoodie?)
My vote will be going to the BNP because not only will they try and restore old values, but enforce discipline to back it up.
Paul, Nottingham,
Politicians like Cameron, Blair and other nannies have made it impossible for parents and school to enforce discipline. Many of us have warned about this for years.
peter, London,
For once the vacuous one is right. We should be jailing the parents of Juvenile criminals and taking the kids into care.
The worst example of this is how Miss Sophie Lancaster a Goth (who no doubt listened to Marylin Manson like myself and many others) was a victim of this thug culture. We should not be blaming music but instead targeting the real problem brain dead youth culture as fostered by Janet Street Porter and her ilk. It's not the heavy music we should be worrying about it's the Pop.
If we are going to tackle the culture then let's look at the real cause. The greedy pop-music loving Thatcher brats who are now roaming our streets are the real issue. These are the children of Margaret Thatcher's culture war and although we might need to tackle the issue let's face facts. It's scum like Cameron that created the scum that are now ruining our towns.
Martin Bentley, Bristol, UK
Parents hold some of the blame as well as those PC left wing teachers in the schools but by far the biggest culprit for this violence culture on Britains streets is New Labour crazed policies and politicians of all parties. The removal of discipline and punishment at all ages has allowed all and sundry to realize they won't get sanctioned if they misbehave or go on to commit really serious offenses. In this respect the culpability for making Britain the worst country in the EU for street crime is in order, first the government for removing proper sentencing, the police for being target driven instead of actually policing and lastly the CPS thats become overrun by a bunch of left wing second rate lawyers that haven't a clue. Cameron or any other politician for that matter needs to make a contract with the public to bring in appropriate sentencing as words wont cut it anymore. The country has had over 5 years of rhetoric but no action and they're sick of it.
Mike, alicante, spain
This is typical of the politicians. Blame us parents for the current state of the nation, with gangs of youths ruling the streets, and violent teen crime on the increase.
The governments have spent years, removing our rights as parents to bring up and discipline our children.
Kids are now taught in schools about their rights, and what adults can and can't do, instead of the important English and Maths
I'm all for protecting the kids from abuse and neglect, but all this namby pamby do-gooder rubbish has effectively destroyed the meaning of one of the most important words in the world - RESPECT.
Children today no longer have any respect for any authority.
Police are ineffective (Bring back the clip round the ear - Oh Sorry, that would be assult)
Teachers are unable to control and punish.
Us parents are often subject to abuse and ridicule, which we can do nothing about, and we are branded as bad parents.
The current state of the nation. The governments only have themselves to blame.
Jon, Stirling,
I think Cameron is correct here when he describes the issues that need to be addressed to stop this gun/gang culture. Tougher laws & policing, & tougher sentences need to be put into place as a detterent-if these children of 11 and 12 think and act like men, lets treat them as such and lock them up with real men, or develop a "boot camp" like punishment to teach discipline and respect for authority. Then focus must go into families and communities, aswell as education to youths, not just focusing on maths and english but morals and issues on life, showing these youths that they have a worth and a purpose. Punishment must be followed by education, kindness and a second chance to instigate self-improvement through rehabilitation and opportunity. Communities must invest in these children, emotionally, financially and socially. These children need help and stability and places to go that are inexpensive and stimulating. Parents need to be severely shamed and blamed for obvious negligence.
Rachael, London,
"David Cameron called yesterday for everyone to become engaged in the fight against social breakdown –– and declared that parents should be shamed into bringing up their children properly. "
Dave,
The problem is, they have none.
fnu snu, Gen., Switz.
the sleepwalk into this state of anarchy began on the day that corporal punishment was ended in schools, todays parents are some of the first generations to "benefit" from those changes, consequently they grew up not knowing, or caring, the difference between right and wrong, so they can hardly be expected to encourage these values in their offspring. as long as they are left in peace to watch their ridiculous soaps and reality tv in peace they could,nt care less where the children are or what they are doing.
david harris, malaga, españa
Is there a correlation between the behaviour of children now and the Children's Act that virtually removed the right of parents to discipline their own children how they see fit, robbed them of the confidence to get on with the job, left them open to prying eyes and tell-tale slurs and emphasised children's rights without their responsibilities?
Having whipped the rug from under parents' feet, politicians now seek the usual scapegoats, and wish to shame parents too. One day they will realise that it takes more than punitive measures to get the society we want. Let's hope that Britain has not become a lawless Wild West by then.
Elaine Sihera, Maidenhead, United Kingdom
I feel that now is the time and that now is the place to re-introduce capital punishment. We have put up with dealing with things in the nicest possible way with community punishment etc but we must have a higher and more painful way of dealing with hardened criminals including youths,
The Police have a responible job to do and this must be reflected in the way the judicial response must deal with it.
Eric Watson, Bournemouth, Dorset
May I say, Judy from Liverpool,
A wonderful statement. I couldnt, and im sure many many others, couldn't agree more.
Dave, Lincoln,
He's right
But please lets not make this a political issue and please lets not tie this to religion. We are going away from reliance on supernatural beings and thats a good thing. We need a value system for the UK free from party politics that makes people accountable for the actions of themselves and for those that they are responsible for.
We need those value sytems now.
Mike Smith, Oxford, UK
Is it just me or does Mr Cameron try very hard to make himself a dictator. Perhaps make parenting classes available to help parents into their new role or do something to help people fix their own lives before they produces new lives. What kind of man is he? One wonders if he had angry parents and this is the result, a dictator maybe or just someone who opens his mouth at his first thoughts?
Christopher, Crewe, England/Cheshire
It isn't just the 'odd' parent who is failing. There are whole swathes of inner city estates where there is little regard for decency. There are many ways to neglect your children and there are many ways to avoid having to be answerable for your actions . The problem with modern day parenting is that it exhibits exactly the same malaise that we see right throughout society. Lazy self-indugent people who have a 'rights without responsibility' attitude that leaves children off-loaded at a younger and younger age onto a wider society which is too busy to take up the slack. The residents on some of these estates prefer to run drugs and lead 'alternative' lifestyles, supported, of course, by state benefits which allow them the time to do it. There is a great deal of neglect in Britain today and it isn't going to be an easy job to restructure this very sick society.
Judy , Liverpool, england
The term "social breakdown" is starting to anoy me. Why is iit ssumed that soiciety was working erfectly well in the first place for it to break down. Soicety ued to burn witches. Society used to employ, sorry, employ is most defineatelty the wrong word. Societ used to condone slavery. Society used to lynch people. Society used to shun unmarried mothers. Society, society, society. I belive that we should strive to do good, impove, aim for Utopia even, but we ARE improving, not breaking down. Can somebody please invent a new tem for deviateating slightly away from the path to the unachiveable utopia.
Tom Fotherngham, London,
**BETTER SPELLING VERZION***
The term "social breakdown" is starting to annoy me. Why is it assumed that society was working perfectly well in the first place for it to break down. Society used to burn witches. Society used to employ, sorry, employ is most definitely the wrong word. Society used to condone slavery. Society used to lynch people. Society used to shun unmarried mothers. Society, society, society. I believe that we should strive to do good, impove, aim for utopia even, but we ARE improving, not breaking down. Can somebody please invent a new term for deviating slightly away from the path to the unachievable utopia.
Tom Fotheringham, London,
Mr Cameron might want to get ready to mount another major climb down when he realises most of th parents of present teenagers spent thei formative years under Tory rule. That is the truth of how effective these same old policies would be.
Allan Stevens, Llanelli,