DAVID CAMERON has said he wants to roll out his national citizen service scheme more widely than originally planned because the recent riots have highlighted the importance of teaching young people about responsibility and self-discipline.
The prime minister said he wanted the scheme to be available to every teenager after GCSEs so that young people could learn “that real fulfilment comes not from trashing things or being selfish but by building things and working with others”.
In an article published in the Sunday Express, Mr Cameron said that the riots illustrated the existence of "deep problems" in society such as a decline in responsibility and a rise in selfishness.
Mr Cameron's analysis contrasts with that of Tony Blair in an article in the Observer. Mr Blair said Britain was "not in the grip of some general moral decline", and that instead the riots were caused by a particular minority, "the group of young, alienated, disaffected youth who are outside the social mainstream".
Mr Cameron has already announced pilot citizen service schemes, that will involve teenage volunteers from different backgrounds working together on community projects. Some 11,000 teenagers will be involved in pilots this year, and 30,000 in 2012.
Mr Cameron said the riots had made him reconsider his plans. “Before the riots we were already looking to roll this out across the country, with up to 30,000 teenagers taking part next year, but after the riots, I feel our ambitions weren’t big enough,” he said.
“I want the national citizen service to be available to every teenager after GCSEs. I want them to learn that they can make a difference in their communities and that real fulfilment comes not from trashing things or being selfish but by building things and working with others.” Mr Cameron’s idea is likely to be popular. According to a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times, 77 per cent of people would support national citizen service being compulsory for young people.
Mr Cameron said he wanted the police to be more visible on the streets. “We need a stronger police presence on the streets, deterring crime and catching criminals instead of filling in forms or wasting time on phony targets. That is what people want.” He said the “misrepresentation of human rights” had contributed to moral decline by undermining personal responsibility.
"We are looking at creating our own British Bill of rights," he said. "We are going to fight in Europe for changes to the way the European court works and we will fight to ensure people understand the real scope of these rights and do not use them as cover for rules or excuses that fly in the face of common sense." – (Copyright: Guardian News & Media2011)
Notting Hill Carnival: Riot suspects ordered to stay away
WITH TENSIONS high following the extreme events in London just a fortnight ago, more than a third of those bailed on riot-related charges have been given the condition that they avoid the west London Notting Hill carnival.
A 33-year-old father from Clapham, south London, accused of stealing a £19.99 (€22.86) pair of trousers from JD Sports during the chaos, was told by Judge Alan Baldwin he could face a heavy penalty if he is found in Notting Hill this weekend.
A single mother aged 25 on trial at the same court in Camberwell for receiving stolen items, rather than rioting, was told to steer clear of the celebrations.
The festivities in Notting Hill are to end early this year – at 7pm each night – but revellers tend to stay out on the streets late into the night after the carnival. The Metropolitan police is doubling its strength to 20,000 in preparation for the holiday weekend.
Courts have been handing out heavy “deterrent” sentences, while rarely giving bail to those still awaiting trial. Judges are refusing bail to more than 80 per cent of these cases, regularly citing a high risk of reoffending.
– ( Guardianservice)