[News] Feral Children - what to do?

[Herr Tubthumper]

Still got family in UK, still got a vote, still got financial interests there. Gonna visit again now post Covid, still got a UK (EU) passport, still got an opinion if you like it or not. Spent over 50 years of my life there, more than many overseas posters on NSC.

Suck it up gobby.

If you have ever wondered how my posts about the UK are so well-informed, it's because I go back regularly. It's a bit like the difference between watching football on tv and live....you simply cannot see the whole picture if you view from afar and through the lens of others.

As for the balanced, measured and objective nature of my posts . this is just an inherent and natural talent I have.

 

[schmunk]

I have two boys one's two months old and the other is two years old. If they end up in a difficult environment in their teenage years my plan is to head off to Nicaragua or Costa Rica for a few years of surfing and life education rather than suffer over here! Good luck to you and yours!

Nicaragua with a murder rate 6x that of the UK, and Costa Rica 9x - are you sure...?

 

[BLOCK F]

Another thread that seems to have gone down the partisan political route………again.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Nicaragua with a murder rate 6x that of the UK, and Costa Rica 9x - are you sure...?

I lived in Costa Rica for 7 years and visited Nicaragua approximately 15-20 times so I'm aware of the pros and cons of both. Costa Rica has generally been a very safe country compared to its neighbours, although in the past 18 months there has been an escalation of violence from foreign drug gangs. Still, it's quite confined to certain areas that are on the drug route from Colombia to the US/Mexico.

The main issue with Costa Rica right now is that they've elected a right wing President who's been compared to Trump and Bolsorano. Their previous President was a centre left politician who studied at the University of Sussex no less and wrote a book titled Temporada en Brighton detailing his time here, which obviously makes him a good'n!

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Another thread that seems to have gone down the partisan political route………again.

That’s because very few of the contributors actually work with kids. Putting it bluntly that means they are likely pushing their world view and actually know bugger all about what they are talking about

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Father of two young girls here. Absolutely terrified of what's to come with social media etc. Some of the awful stuff I went through at school is lost to time but nowadays it all recorded. I read about some of the pressures facing teenage girls and it really scares me. I'd seriously consider homeschooling and removing them from the situation as soon as they experience any sort of bullying. The whole thing makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Don’t be put off school. Make sure you are heavily involved and speaking to class teachers as much as you can. Build a relationship with your kids such that they talk to you about uncomfortable subjects. You will be fine.

 

[Hampden Park]

Birch em, birch em all

 

[The Clamp]

Although the police response seems to have been woeful, rest assured there are not marauding gangs of feral teenagers stalking the land. It’s a specific group of prick kids, in a specific locale, who have probably got mutants for parents.

They need a clatteringly hard rollocking and a firm plan going forward on how they are going to spend their free time and who with. There will be something more productive for them to do than bash other kids.

As for the parents? It’s too late for them, kill them with a spade.

 

[Biscuit]

I’m a Dad that’s witnessed this, it started for her age about 7. You’re right to feel that way, it’s widespread, the internet giving no refuge behind closed doors at home. Tips:

- take all electronic devices from them at least an hour before bed.
- communicate with schools in person very early doors.
- don’t be afraid to change schools if they’re more interested into “building resilience” (AKA not being tough on the bullies).
- give your kids/teens a life packed with stuff other than the internet - watch movies together, see the outside world with them.
- be their non-judgemental best friend. So at any age they can come to you for advice, love, share their emotions.

Good advice, thanks. My oldest is 6 and I'm being very observant. She's not that into school because home life for her is pretty packed with fun days out/activities etc just gotta keep that up and make sure they can both talk to us. I'm definitely the 'parent', their mother taking on the non-judgemental best friend role.

 

[MJsGhost]

So so sad. The filming of it as well is just sick. If my kid was getting attacked like that I’d find it very hard not to smash the little ***** time and time again to be honest. Then I’d be the one in trouble no doubt. Sad times.

This.

I am not predisposed to violence (far from it), but I would find it very hard not to respond in kind.

Given the video footage, it should be a pretty simple process to identify the kids (and therefore also their parents) to then intervene and try to make sure it never happens again, SURELY?

Then we can look at the myriad of societal and individual problems that caused it in the first place... 5 minute job?

 

[Baldseagull]

Another thread that seems to have gone down the partisan political route………again.

Well, if Police being too busy to respond is the problem, it's a bit tough to Blame Tony Blair for the lack of Police Officers.

 

[rippleman]

Is this not a real issue?

Lancashire Police say:-

"We regularly run operations aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour as part of our aim to deliver an outstanding service to the public and build confidence."

The police are treating it as "anti-social behaviour"? Anti-social behaviour is keying cars, making noise, breaking fences, graffiti, shoplifting etc. These were serious violent assaults. If the police are treating these assaults as "anti-social behaviour" is it any wonder there is a problem?

 

[The Clamp]

This may explain a fair bit. And also why this IS political.

23,500 police staff jobs have been lost in England and Wales since 2010, figures from GMB, the union for police staff, reveal.

The figures include more than 7,000 cuts to Police Community Support Officer roles (PCSOs). In one police force, Norfolk, PCSO numbers have fallen by 100 per cent after the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner cut all posts.

“The Tories talk tough on crime but in reality they’ve spent the last decade denying police forces the resources they need to keep the public safe. “They have put lives at risk every day.

- Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer

The most affected region is London, which has lost almost half (47 per cent or 9,000 jobs) of its police staff since 2010, including 72 per cent of PCSOs. The worst of the cuts were inflicted in the Metropolitan Police during Boris Johnson’s term as Mayor of London.

The North East is the second worst affected region with almost a third of jobs lost.

The term police staff covers a wide range of roles including custody officers, 999 call handlers, PCSOs, scene of crime investigators, and technical and administrative support jobs.

These job losses are on top of cuts to police officer numbers. The Tory’s have cut 20,000 police officers since 2010

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/shock-figures-reveal-23500-police-staff-cut-under-tories


Nothing to do with politics, my arse.

 

[Brovion]

This may explain a fair bit. And also why this IS political.

23,500 police staff jobs have been lost in England and Wales since 2010, figures from GMB, the union for police staff, reveal.

The figures include more than 7,000 cuts to Police Community Support Officer roles (PCSOs). In one police force, Norfolk, PCSO numbers have fallen by 100 per cent after the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner cut all posts.

“The Tories talk tough on crime but in reality they’ve spent the last decade denying police forces the resources they need to keep the public safe. “They have put lives at risk every day.

- Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer

The most affected region is London, which has lost almost half (47 per cent or 9,000 jobs) of its police staff since 2010, including 72 per cent of PCSOs. The worst of the cuts were inflicted in the Metropolitan Police during Boris Johnson’s term as Mayor of London.

The North East is the second worst affected region with almost a third of jobs lost.

The term police staff covers a wide range of roles including custody officers, 999 call handlers, PCSOs, scene of crime investigators, and technical and administrative support jobs.

These job losses are on top of cuts to police officer numbers. The Tory’s have cut 20,000 police officers since 2010

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/shock-figures-reveal-23500-police-staff-cut-under-tories


Nothing to do with politics, my arse.

Blimey. Proof that 'Defund the Police' was official Tory party policy long before American activists picked up on it.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

That’s because very few of the contributors actually work with kids. Putting it bluntly that means they are likely pushing their world view and actually know bugger all about what they are talking about

I was a qualified youth worker on a Yorkshire council housing estate, working at council youth club from 1976-1993 every Tuesday and Friday night.

It is political. Lack of funding has destroyed the youth service, and volunteers try their hardest with very little reward.

 

[BLOCK F]

Well, if Police being too busy to respond is the problem, it's a bit tough to Blame Tony Blair for the lack of Police Officers.

Eh?
Well,I’m not blaming Tony Blair and I don’t think one can entirely blame any lack of police officers on behaviour of this sort.
Some of the problem must surely lie with the parents of these miscreants. Not all of it, but certainly they must bear some responsibility.
There is a creeping lack of respect for anyone who is seen to be in authority from some. Teachers for example,are taking all kinds of abuse from ‘ feral parents’. A general disregard for what is morally right or wrong seems to be rife in certain sections of the community and that is not confined to those who are less well off.
Where I do agree that politics comes into it, is the dreadful example of our soon to be gone PM. He is a person who is devoid of a moral compass. However, I don’t think that any Government, of any shade, can be wholly blamed for what is really just fu—-ng disgraceful behaviour by ‘feral youth.’

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I was a qualified youth worker on a Yorkshire council housing estate, working at council youth club from 1976-1993 every Tuesday and Friday night.

It is political. Lack of funding has destroyed the youth service, and volunteers try their hardest with very little reward.

You seem very sure. Lives for teenagers now don’t even compare with 1993. More money would help but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the cultural changes and challenges faced by those who work with children in 2022.

 

[keaton]

You seem very sure. Lives for teenagers now don’t even compare with 1993. More money would help but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the cultural changes and challenges faced by those who work with children in 2022.

When I worked with social services and LAC (in the last decade) they were all certain that problems with parenting and children were being made far worse due to Sure Start and other services stopping and cuts to roles that support vulnerable families.

 

[The Clamp]

Street gangs in the U.S grew out of black kids being barred from joining youth clubs and organisations such as Scouts because of the colour of their skin. With the closure of such things in urban areas, we are making the same mistakes, albeit for different reasons.

 

[rippleman]

Should society be paying for activities to distract young kids from committing violent assaults as shown in the video?

As a child, apart from a few months at Scouts, I wasn't a member of any clubs or sports teams. Apart from a caution 35 years ago I have never been in trouble and certainly not committed any vicious assaults. For a few, having some youth facility may well provide a distraction and prevent them committing serious crime but for the majority, I'm not so sure. Look at how many kids just sit in their bedrooms glued to their mobiles or other devices rather than going to the local park for a kickabout.

If we ressurect the youth club, the boxing club etc would they come? I doubt it.