Bugsy Malone

Following Jacqui Smith's recent declaration that Britain's knife crime and gun crime was more a public perception and "actual government figures" showed that it hadn't changed I felt compelled to write this blog. I'm pretty sure that everybody globally has now heard of Britain's near epidemic weapon's culture and I'm also petty sure that everybody (bar Jacqui Smith apparently) can see that it is now becoming out of hand.

The real problem is that it seems that nothing can be done to combat the problem. Carrying knives will always be an option to people and more frighteningly children, as in every household kitchen there will be a draw with at least 5 deadly weapons, which can easily be placed in a coat pocket. Therefore the accessibility will never be eradicated however surely something can be done go combat the gun culture. When did guns become an item so easily to aquire?

To my knowledge there are two main causes for this flowering culture. First of all the police structure is inadequate e.g. too much paperwork and not enough police patrolling the streets. I was fortunate enough to visit NYC last year and the numbers of police were staggering, there were together in pairs and clearly visible. In my opinion this is what with need in Britain, more police doing their proper jobs (e.g. less paperwork or road incidents) and I would also go as far as saying that police should also be armed with a firearm. I can see that this may create as many problems as it solves however the message would be clear.

Secondly I would like to see a "relaxation" on the human rights rule for criminals. Through my eyes if someone is committing a criminal activity then they have automatically forfeited some of their human rights, an example of this is a burglary. Why shouldn't you be able to hit a burglar around the head with a golf club if he/she has broken into you house at 3.00 in the morning epically when he/she is probably armed? Why should you have to risk your little son or daughter’s life trying to use 'adequate force'? It was their choice to come into your house.

A 'relaxation' on human rights would also ease the prison congestion. Don't get me wrong I don't buy into the myth that prison is a holiday camp, but I do believe that there needs to be a sharp increase in the toughness/ harshness of prisons. For example when was it acceptable for prisoners to have single rooms (I accept this is sometimes needed under special circumstances) and to be able to smoke or have drugs? To me a sentence should be served fully and therefore why are prisoners being released early? At the end of the day humans are only given one chance at life and therefore nobody has the right to ruin or end their chance. Longer sentences, harsher prisons will act as a deterrent and in my opinion more fear should be installed into society.

To relate to the title of the blog I must share with you a conversation I had. In the conversation I tried to convey the opinion that the newspapers are right and that in my opinion the country is falling apart and that this is the worst social conditions we have had for many years. I talked of my fear that in the near future teenagers could build on their accessibility of weapons to lead them to organised crime such as protection rackets and the drug trade. After all if gangs of hooded teenagers with guns and knives start demanding money from shop keepers every week on fear of death, who isn't going to pay up?

I mentioned that we could be seeing the start of a society where children will be involved in organised crime, not taking over from adults, but sharing in it's immoral profits. I referred to it becoming like 'Bugsy Malone' and that is where the conversation ended, as the idea seemed ridiculous to my counterpart.

Really though this is the problem at the moment in society, people refuse to look forward to the future and simply complain about the present.

20 years ago would adults really be scared of going out at night in many areas, in case they were assaulted (or worse) by groups of children....