Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

MAJORITY RULE OK

As many of you know, we have been having difficulties in Plympton and Plymstock with groups of young people hanging about on street corners causing mayhem with residents and passers-by alike. They are rude, aggressive, often drunk and destructive.

They are also a tiny minority. I have calculated, using the back of an envelope, that there are about 2,400 15 to 18 year olds in these two suburbs. The problems are being caused by a few groups of about 20 to 30 thoughtless young people, maybe a total of 100 in all, of whom only a handful are ringleaders. That is roughly 4%! Even if it is 5% that means that 95% of young people are not out getting drunk, mouthing abuse and smashing windows. They are getting on with their studies, playing their sport, hugging their friends, listening to weird music, worrying about spots and global warming, watching their TV programmes and playing their computer games.

A senior policeman told me years ago that over 80% of all crime in Plymouth is committed by 1% of the population. The vast majority would never dream of wandering into a shop and stuffing CDs into their pockets or setting fire to someone’s house or ripping the radio out of a parked car.

None of this makes it any easier if you have been a victim of foul mouthed street-malingerers or had your home broken into. But it should help us keep a more positive perspective. Not all youngsters are running wild. Even though it may often feel like it, the country is not going to the dogs!

I regularly visit all of the five secondary schools in my constituency and speak to (and mainly listen to) their sixth-formers. I am always impressed by their lively engagement with local and current issues. They may have hairstyles and slang that we never used to – but so what? I used to have a Rod Stewart hairstyle and drink cider. Most of today’s teenagers are interesting people who will make a positive contribution to our country.

I strongly support tough action on the tiny minority of those who misbehave. The police and courts have got to make Dispersal Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders work more effectively than they do today. Our streets must not become no-go areas.
But let us also recognise the benign talent of the vast majority of the next generation and the unique pressures they are under.

posted by Nigel on Thursday, December 02, 2004