[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Me personally? A complete overhaul of the tragic western socioeconomic system that has lead to an underclass that is constantly embroiled in crime and violence.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to tackle that, though.

So in the meantime, if you're looking for a simple answer; creative and engaging community policing and engagement, which has been PROVEN to be effective in several violent US cities.

Personally T.S I'm 'fed up' with the hackneyed old cliches which are all too regularly 'trotted out' about 'the poor', the 'underprivileged', the 'underclass'.

For the most part, in today's WELFARE SOCIETY, it is B.S.

There DEFINITELY is a section of society who ARE struggling to exist who have slipped through the net of our 'Welfare system'; some elderly, some mentally 'vulnerable' and some who are timid and confused who are not au fait with the help which is available to alleviate their 'plight'.

NONE of the above though are likely to be involved in the type of crime which this thread is about.

A HUGE percentage of violent crime is NOT borne of NEED but GREED.

Organised GANG violent crime IS 'Working Class' crime only by virtue of the fact that it is perpetrated by so-called 'Working Class villains even though MOST of them claim benefits and have NEVER worked a day in their lives, and just as in Chicago in the 20's and ever since, it is usually the result of criminals fighting to protect 'Manors' and the immense profits from Drug dealing, People Smuggling, Prostitution, and other crimes.

Expensive mobile phones, trainers, and heavy gold chains and other bling, BMW's and other expensive cars are NOT the possessions of the 'Poor and needy 'underclass.

Black people and Immigrants figure PROMINENTLY amongst this class of violent crime perpetrators as they do amongst the teenagers perpetrating the knife crimes which this thread is about.

There is a link between violent crimes and run-down areas but it is NOT any deprivation - financial or otherwise - which drives the criminal elements within those areas, no more than it is which drives multi-millionaires in Manhatten or Belgravia to commit multi-million-pound frauds, it is GREED.

As some other member pointed out, the VAST MAJORITY of residents within those 'deprived' areas remain law-abiding and by virtue of so doing do NOT enjoy the lifestyle of their criminal neighbours.

Any proposed correlation between violent crime and economic deprivation is bleeding heart, neo-Liberal B.S in my opinion.