Shamik Das writes on the final report of the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel set up to examine the causes of last summer’s London and UK-wide riots.
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The final report of the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel into last summer’s London and UK-wide riots has identified 500,000 “forgotten families” who “aren’t getting the support they need”.
The report, due to be unveiled tomorrow, cites four underlying causes, namely poor parenting, an inability to prevent re-offending, too great an emphasis on materialism, and a lack of faith in the police.
Looking ahead, the report says:
Government and local public services should develop a strategy incorporating the principles of the Troubled Families Programme to help 500,000 “forgotten families” turn their lives around.
It also recommends schools which fail to raise literacy rates to the required minimum standard for each age group should face a financial penalty, saying up to 15,000 people were thought to have taken part in the riots, the majority aged under 24 – and with poor academic records.
At the weekend, panel chair Darra Singh told the Observer:
“The August riots shocked the world. Up to 15,000 individuals actively participated, with countless more bystanders watching from the sidelines. Five thousand related crimes have been recorded, five people died and the cost of the riots is estimated to be £0.5bn.
“The impact on many people in the worst-affected communities is still being felt, as small businesses try to recover.
“The majority of rioters were 24 or under. Most had poor academic records. Nine out of 10 were known to the police and a third had already been in prison. The independent Riots Communities and Victims Panel, which was set up to report on the causes of the riots, has found that 70% of suspected rioters came from the 30% most deprived areas in the country.
“Communities also told us that some rioter behaviour could ultimately be ascribed to poor parenting, and that shared values in young people should be promoted.”
A 1,200-person IPSOS Mori survey by the panel revealed:
• 67% of people in the deprived areas believe materialism among young people is a problem;
• 77% feel there is too much branding and advertising aimed at young people;
• 85% feel advertising puts pressure on young people to possess the latest products;
• 70% feel steps need to be taken to reduce the amount of advertising aimed at young people.
• Anger with police sparked the riots 4 Dec 2011
• IDS jumped the gun: Gangs had nothing to do with the riots 10 Nov 2011
• Coalition split on riots sentencing 10 Oct 2011
• How to build a cross-party consensus on responding to the riots 16 Aug 2011
• A crowd psychology analysis of the riots 9 Aug 2011
As Singh concluded:
“Action must be taken to avoid leaders having to ask why people rioted again in the not too distant future.”
We will have more analysis of the report into last summer’s riots later this week on Left Foot Forward.
60 Responses to “UK riots: The “500,000 forgotten families””
Anonymous
Twice as many Londoners think local people should be able to use physical violence to protect properties and communities in future riots (62%) as say they shouldn’t (31%).
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So are you going to allow people to arm themselves?
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There’s support among Londoners for police use of curfews and water cannon in future riots (78% say curfews should be use, while 72% say water cannon should be used). But opinion is split evenly on tear gas (50% say it should be used, while 46% should it shouldn’t. Most Londoners (57%) think rubber bullets should not be used.
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Might I suggest that the water cannon are filled with dye. If its blue dye, then its easy to identify the rioters for sometime after the event. They will look like Smurfs. If its orange dye, they will look like Peter Hain. That also has the added advantage that those involved will need to hide themselves away for a period after the event to avoid being arrested.
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Londoners are split on whether the new National Citizens Service should be voluntary or compulsory. Half of Londoners (47%) say National Citizens’ Service should be compulsory and two in five (40%) say it should be voluntary. Only 9% say it should not be set up at all.
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Nothing like a bit of slave labour.
Maria
Schools should not be the sticky plaster used to try to mend the broken bones of a society built on rampant capitalism. The ‘have nots’ do not choose their position in society. In order for those at the top to maintain their high standards of living it requires those at the bottom to slave away on minimum wage. Simply saying education will solve the problem is too simplistic. For some it will; those bright enough to rise above all the obstacles of poverty. But as long as society allows poverty wages to be paid to those who carry out the menial but neccessary tasks then we will have disafffected members who see the rewards of hard work available for others and not them. So go ahead and fine the schools that have the hardest task off all, trying to inspire and offer opportunity to those that the capitalist system wishes to remain low paid/ low expectation workers, but don’t expect it to make a jot of difference. Only a fairer, more equal society with those at the top willing to share in the rewards instead of take advantage of those ‘beneath’ them, will come anyway near ensuring more riots do not occur.
Martin Steel
UK riots: The “500,000 forgotten families”: http://t.co/gJa5F0Sg by @ShamikDas #UKriots #LondonRiots
Selohesra
Sterilisation of anyone caught rioting would be a good idea – these scum would in a generation self select themselves out of society
Danny Parks
UK-wide riots? I don’t think so. If anyone can tell me which cities in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland suffered those riots, I’d be interested in their answers. The riots only happened in England, because England is the only country in the Divided Kingdom the Brits want to destroy. Until you learn the difference between England, Britain and the ‘United’ Kingdom, and when to use each term, you have no place in the blogosphere.