London Riots

On Thursday 8 August 2011 in Tottenham London

Mark Duggan was shot dead by

British police.

On Friday 9 August 2011 Mark Duggan’s family and friends, upset and angry at the behaviour of the police, held a peaceful protest.

Few could have failed to have seen something in the media of the looting, violence and arson which followed in many areas of London; escalating and spreading to other parts of the UK.  Seemingly mindless destruction of local businesses as well as some private and government properties. 

Members of the general public became fearful of entering streets which only hours before had been places of work and recreation.  Nobody seemed exempt, even journalists reporting the events were attacked and equipment smashed or stolen.  Many of us would have watched the heartbreaking image on TV of the injured young person robbed by those whom he believed to be helping him.

Emotions ran high, anger and revenge flooded social websites.  Members of the public and various organisations gave their point of view and ways of reform.  ‘Give the police more powers.’  ‘It’s the parents.’  ‘Must be a reaction to the ‘cuts’.’  ‘They are, the under privileged’ and an expression which could be right out of George Orwell’s 1984, ‘It’s The Underclass’.

Police stated it was ‘copycat’ behaviour and an element of that appears to be proven, judging by the ‘status’ of some of those arrested for looting.  I doubt whether the looters themselves could give a definitive explanation of the motivation for their actions.

Various questions are posed.  How long has this been brewing?  Where was the government?  Current and previous.  How did this gang-culture youth develop?  Who knew about it?  Local councilors, social workers, police officers, teachers, GP’s - parents?

Though we in the UK have never experienced such blatant, collusive, violent behaviour to such a degree on our streets, we have had more than our share of football hooliganism and look at our lager-lout reputation worldwide.  It certainly highlights our audacity in presuming we know what is best for other nations’ problems when we do not resolve our own.

Yes, I think it is a result of all the above and maybe, initially, ‘it is the parents’.  Our family code informs our view of the world until we gain insight.

'Give me the child until he is seven and I’ll give you the man.' St. Francis Xavier

But we can only use the tools we possess.  I feel it unfair and unhelpful simply to make harsh judgments on those who have not been provided with them or even been told where to look.  Many of these young people have not been encouraged to study or plan for future employment, apart from the other culture of truancy inhibiting them from academic achievement.

Punishment alone will not suffice. David Cameron refers to a 'sick society'; I trust he will realise that we are all culpable.  In group dynamics every person present plays a part, even if that is in keeping silent.

'The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.' Edmund Burke

Love and acceptance is the soil for the development of a stable, confident, human being.  The child who knows it is loved and valued does not question his or her worthiness and abilities.  An emotionally damaged child cannot learn, with the obvious repercussions. 

Poverty of circumstance, yes but poverty of spirit, however we define that, is one of the biggest barriers to self-actualisation and progression; educationally and socially.  We all need to be welcomed into this world, and encouraged to contribute to it.

Statistics show that much of the gang-culture in UK Urban areas ferments mainly in families with absent fathers; this includes those who remain in the family home but are never around to adequately 'father' their children. And of course these men are often products of similar circumstances. Though I would not highlight this as the only reason for social breakdown; fathers are needed.  Their role in family is to provide challenge for their children; to teach about risk-taking and responsibility in a loving environment with clear limitations and consequences.  Many of these families consist of people who have had no paid employment for generations; what example is that?  If any child, male or female, does not receive these tools for life, then how can they foster them in their own children?  If this is the case then it is for our society to ensure our parliamentary system takes on that responsibility where it can. 

There is an encroaching unfair hierarchy in Britain. 


When certain groups of people referred to as ‘the underclass’ take what is not theirs, invade others' property and deprive them of their hard earned cash, we call them Ferrell rats, evil.  We call for their blood. Take their homes! Stop their benefits!  We have to punish them for daring to go where they do not belong.

Do we think that this 'underclass' does not notice when the government allows the prosperous to rip-off their fellow citizens, as in bankers for example?  When the poorest, the so-called 'working classes' are made to pay for the irresponsibility of the elite?  Do we think they did not notice that after the furore of the politician’s expenses scandal, when so many were involved that so few were convicted and most were let off with a slap on the wrist?  Do we think that OUR poor who live in our urban areas with no jobs, no education and no hope of them; did not notice who was involved in, and who got away with what, during the 'phone-hacking' scandal.  A hypocritical Cameron; a man who has no idea of what it means to have to do without, or struggle to make ends meet, who due to money and influence had the best education, and prospects; who instead of being grateful for his privileged position and vow to use his power to help the less privileged, is so eager to point the finger and him in bed with Murdoch and Co.

Corruption is swept under-the-carpet when it suits, usually by men in suits; experts in how to get away with 'blue murder'.  Instead of confronting this criminal behaviour we turn-a-blind-eye, lick our wounds, somehow feeling justified at having been avenged in that two lads go to prison because they texted about a riot which did not happen.

'If we keep doing what we’re doing – we’ll keep getting what we’ve got.' David Thornburg


'Perfect Storm' The England Riots August 2011 Mini Documentary

The most populous urban areas in the UK

Greater London Urban Area

• West Midlands Urban Area

• Greater Manchester Urban Area

• West Yorkshire Urban Area

• Greater Glasgow

• Tyneside

• Liverpool Urban Area

• Nottingham Urban Area

• Sheffield Urban Area

• Bristol Urban Area.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_fopm_urbanareas.pdf

Ye Gods!...........

So we are looking to America now for advice on how to raise our children? 

The U.S?  A seed-bed of inequality, racism and inadequate and unequal social, educational and health-care systems.

Punishment is not the only answer.  Money is not the only answer.  And bribing young people to stay in education, with EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) is not the answer.

The London riots took place during school and college Summer break. 

Many of our disaffected young people have no desire to continue education but are tempted onto a college course due to the lack of adequately paid employment and the dubious incentive of EMA.  For the majority, education has been a difficult and painful experience – often from within the Child Looked After system which is of itself endemically abusive and has been known to produce young people who are disruptive, aggressive and academically demotivated who turn to crime which has for them, become the easiest way of earning money and of gaining 'respect'. 

I have spoken to Tutors who are at their wits’ end trying to cope with not only violent behaviour but abject rudeness and insolence - the use of mobile phones throughout the lesson is 'normal' as is shouting across the room and out of the windows, fighting, clambering over desks, the use of foul language, 'scooting' around the classroom on chairs, using college PC’s to access social networking or buy-on-line sites - walking out of lessons, often to the pub and attacking staff are only some of the pastimes regularly adopted.  If students are reminded that this is not statutory education and they do not have to be in college, the response usually, ‘We won’t get our EMA!’  EMA is deemed to be paid to encourage students to ‘engage with learning’ not for just walking into a building.

Those students who want to learn are constantly disrupted by their peers.  Colleges have guidelines for dealing with misbehaviour though I am told that if a tutor attempts to report poor behaviour support is often not forthcoming from either quality managers or head teachers.  Forced by government stats to be obsessed with ratings and tick boxes tutors lose their self-confidence, feel de-skilled, trying to accommodate a 'hierarchy' that does not want to know about 'failings.’  Tutors are left unsupported - the implication being that they should be able to ‘control’ the class and any difficulties with behaviour are due to their own inabilities.

EMA for these students has no benefit whatsoever.  I feel they would be better employed – employed!!  A couple of years in the working arena would hopefully mature them and give them time to reflect on their future and possible further education and free them from abusive and manipulative parents.  Bring back a properly assessed Youth Training Scheme with consequences for poor behaviour and attendance which are adhered to by all stakeholders and where students and parents have a voice.

A percentage of students genuinely want to learn and some of their home circumstances enrage me.  Several young people have to give their EMA to their parents and some of these parents use it for drugs and alcohol.  Whilst I was teaching at a local Institute this year, one young man told me that his father (unemployed with alcohol issues) has removed his son’s bedroom door to sell it and was taking his EMA in order, he says, to purchase another.  As a result this young man has to walk daily to and from college, three miles each way.  A young woman whose mother is addicted to booze and Weed not only gives her parents her EMA she has to work as well as attend college in order to buy food for herself.  Another student in receipt of EMA attends college not only because she receives the allowance but it is better than staying at home being ‘knocked around by me Mum’s boyfriend and his sister.’ 

These stories are not the exception and the issues are not only with EMA students, many are from privileged backgrounds with wealthy parents but who are often poor role-models. 

We are letting many of our young people down; not all want to extend their education, especially if their experience was a negative one.  We all have differing needs and learning styles.  Technical colleges addressed these differing abilities – where did they go?  What happened to apprenticeships?

Some FE teaching institutions are rapidly becoming remedial colleges.  I have witnessed Tutors in tears (male and female) so stressed and unhappy in their working environment, the lack of support and futility of their situation.  Experienced, competent tutors will leave FE colleges and I do not blame them.  Currently it is the most dedicated tutors who remain as well as those who feel they have no alternative due to financial commitments.  The level of staff absence through 'sickness' is escalating in my experience.  Shelf-stacking at Asda can seem an attractive alternative for many.

What has to be addressed is; why do successive governments and certain elements of society turn a blind eye?