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Voices Against Violence: What you said
9:32am Wednesday 16th July 2008
TODAY our Voices Against Violence campaign comes to an end.
Seven weeks ago, we asked you for your comments on what you would like to see happen to stem the flow of blood on our streets.
Hundreds of you responded, with a variety of different suggestions.
Arguments raged on our website and our letters page brimmed with ideas and comments on the rising number of stabbings and shootings within News Shopper's circulation area.
Hundreds more of you voted in our online poll, with the return of capital punishment emerging as by far your preferred method of deterring young people from taking the wrong path.
We brought you the issue from a number of different perspectives, including a top police officer, youth workers and the parents of both victims and perpetrators of knife crime.
Voices Against Violence did not set out to change anything. Its aim was to give our readers and website visitors the opportunity to have their say.
From this point of view, it has been a success.
As we conclude the campaign, and after a weekend which saw a flurry of killings across the country, new measures to tackle youth crime have been announced by the Government.
They include proposals to target 10,000 problematic' families and increased support for victims of crime.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I am very keen we make people face up to the consequences.
"It is tougher than saying there is one, simple solution and this is everyone goes to prison."
But more than 1,000 of you have had your say on our website and most of you think tougher prison sentences are the answer.
On our website, Ben from Bromley summed up what many of you are saying: "I don't see how this is so hard to do. We need to bring in tough new laws to protect the public from violent knife or gun crime.
"Anyone caught carrying a knife or gun in the street, at their workplace, at school, wherever, should be sentenced to at least 10 to 15 years."
Karen McGrath, from Bexley, said: "If things don't improve, perhaps it is time for people to take matters into their own hands and form vigilante groups.
"Also, parents need to be accountable for their offspring's actions. If they started to put the parents in prison or made them do the community service, I think things would change."
All your comments will now be delivered to the Home Office, along with the Voices Against Violence pages which appeared in News Shopper.
We thank everyone who got involved and hope the Government takes notice of your comments.
Your Say YourShopper
Simon Owoade, West London says...
10:25pm Wed 16 Jul 08
Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott, The Study says...
8:48am Thu 17 Jul 08
Who is this 'we' you keep mentioning as in 'we must lead by example'?
I think you will find that the majority of people in this country are law-abiding citizens who treat their fellow human beings with respect, so if the little scrotes who roam the streets in gangs need a few role models, they have only to open their eyes and take a look around them.
I am sick and tired of people suggesting that there should be more youth centres for the yobs to attend. Do you really, seriously believe, that the type of scum that carry knives would consider throwing their weapons away because they had a chance of a game of table tennis?
Give them harsh sentences and frighten the life out of them in prison, that's the only real solution.
Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott
knowlsey, sidcup says...
8:54am Thu 17 Jul 08
fjames, lewisham says...
10:10am Thu 17 Jul 08
knowlsey, sidcup says...
10:40am Thu 17 Jul 08
fjames, lewisham Team Angels says...
11:28am Thu 17 Jul 08
thankfully not my lord, its people like yourself that are the problem in this country/world. you havnt a clue what life is about thats why you make silly remarks like this-
you have written a lot of words which amount to very little.shame you didnt comment on the fact that governments provide the conditions in which chaos can thrive.
so if the little scrotes who roam the streets in gangs need a few role models, they have only to open their eyes and take a look around them.
what, people like amy crackhouse, pete kate moss, no thanks!
the type of scum that carry knives would consider throwing their weapons away because they had a chance of a game of table tennis.
wake up to the real world boyo, those who carry knifes are not all scum some are trying to protect themselves from the scumbags who do seek to take their lives. i'm not advocating the carrying of weapons i would prefer if they were all blackbelts in one form of martial arts, however due to corrupt leaders this knowledge is hard to acquire if you dont have the funds. maybe you havnt noticed but there are no proper after-school fascilities for young people to access, politicians want parents at work 24-7 by requiring this they remove parents from their children, their children are then exposed to abuse/misuse from the system and other vultures and their children!!
people who make sweeping statements like you are part of the problem not the solution so do us a favour dont express it unless it is constructive, keep it to your sad self!!
It's better to die for a noble cause than to die a slave of the devil system
peace out
knowlsey, sidcup says...
2:19pm Thu 17 Jul 08
cassie, bromley says...
2:08am Sat 19 Jul 08
and shame so many of them are hypocrites who cannot practice what they preach
Your sayYourShopper
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fjames, lewisham says...
5:27pm Wed 16 Jul 08
tough new laws are not the only way infact that could be more destuctive, more punishment is not neccessarilly an antidote. in my experience of working in different fields it is clear that a lack of proper knowledge is the fundermental cause of all this madness in our communities today. you and i know that it is being without certain principle knowledge and laws that causes people and youngsters to make irrational decisions.
if you have no care for life how do we expect our younger generations to care, we must lead by example and show young people how to care for life and each other. if they see and experience parents, friends and wider communities caring for each other then the young too will follow our lead, they will see and feel how humanity ought to be living together.
we are the ones who will make the difference, politicians dont give a dam about us they know what needs the young people have but they make out like they do not know, its all trickery! i suggest they find the money to finance a series of youth centres across london and national, where young people can get the knowledge they need to become beautiful citizens proud to exist not this nasty reality hell bent on destruction.
help us put pressure on those who are capable to assist us. we need to act now!!!
i look forward to hearing from you.
kind regards
fiona
frm Teen Angels