London calling

[Triple Zero]

Well it wasn't mine to begin with, so go for it

[Cain]

Uh oh, stats are out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15426720

The most comprehensive statistics published so far on the August riots in England show that those who took part were poorer, younger and of lower educational achievement than average.

Some 90% of those brought before the courts were male, and only 5% were over the age of 40.

The government figures show a quarter were juveniles - aged 10-17 - and a similar proportion were aged 18-20.

Of those arrested, 13% were identified as gang members.

Even in London, where gang membership among those arrested was highest, the figure was less than one in five.

Some 35% of adults brought before courts were claiming out-of-work benefits, which compares to a national average of 12%.

Of the young people involved, 42% were in receipt of free school meals compared to an average of 16%.
Ethnic background

A government spokesman said: "In terms of the role gangs played in the disorder, most forces perceived that where gang members were involved, they generally did not play a pivotal role."

Two-thirds of the young people in court were classed as having some form of special educational need. This compares to 21% for the national average.

Three-quarters of all those who appeared in court had a previous conviction or caution. For adults the figure was 80% and for juveniles it was 62%.

In terms of ethnicity, 40% of those arrested were white, 39% black, 11% of mixed background, 8% Asian and 2% were classified as "other".

Ethnic background ranged geographically from 77% white in Manchester to 32% white in London, and from 47% black in London to 11% black in Hertfordshire.

[Freeky]

Does that sound about right, or are they trying to put some kind of spin on it?

[LMNO]

Sounds to me as if it flies in the face of the spin the right was putting on it; i.e. it was all gangs and minorities.  Or something like that. 

[Freeky]

So that's good, then?  Nutcases get shown that they're full of shit or something?

[BadBeast]

I think the Media are playing the down the "Gang" connection. Also, on the news, it just said that a significant number opf defendents had come from abroad, specifically for the occasion. Which makes me think Call me Dave is lying about the amount of illegal immigrants apprehended.
It's not like he doesn't have a vested interest in playing down the prevalence of Inner City Gangs, or illegal immigrants, and he's a Tory, and they can't pass on any opportunity to scrub the shit from any of their their ''sensitive issues''.

[Reginald Ret]

I may be repeating what has been said a million times before, but when you are trying to fight a bad situation i.e. 'too many gangs' wouldn't the best course of action be to look at a similar country with less gangs and copy their behaviour?
Trying to be more like the countries with the highest gang-activity may not be the smartest move here.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I may be repeating what has been said a million times before, but when you are trying to fight a bad situation i.e. 'too many gangs' wouldn't the best course of action be to look at a similar country with less gangs and copy their behaviour?
Trying to be more like the countries with the highest gang-activity may not be the smartest move here.

STOP, WITH YOUR LOGIC AND YOUR SENSE.

[BadBeast]

I may be repeating what has been said a million times before, but when you are trying to fight a bad situation i.e. 'too many gangs' wouldn't the best course of action be to look at a similar country with less gangs and copy their behaviour?
Trying to be more like the countries with the highest gang-activity may not be the smartest move here.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I may be repeating what has been said a million times before, but when you are trying to fight a bad situation i.e. 'too many gangs' wouldn't the best course of action be to look at a similar country with less gangs and copy their behaviour?
Trying to be more like the countries with the highest gang-activity may not be the smartest move here.