Britain's Mean Streets

Britain's Mean Streets

The youngsters in Britain are by many known as the most troubled youth in Europe and possibly the whole world. With heavy drinking, drugs, increasing criminal activity and early sex habits Britain's youth were bottom ranked on child wellbeing in a UNICEF study in 2007. The crime among young people in Britain has increased significantly in the past few years and this resulted in the dead of 27 teenagers who were murdered with guns of knives owned by youngsters in 2007. Many would not be afraid to say that Britain's youth is out of control and that this problem needs to be solved.

An article by Catherine Mayer focuses on this specific problem. In 2008 the article called Britain's Mean Streets was published in TIME Magazine. In her article Catherine Mayer describes how many people actually avoid going outside at night because of their fear of being mugged, beaten up or in the worst case getting killed by gangs of youngsters. And it is these so called gangs who terrorize Britain's streets at night and in the day as well that are the problem. The grown ups in Britain are afraid of their youth and in the theory they have every reason to be. There are way to many examples of people who gets mugged for money or forced to give away their PIN number. In many cases these people are also beaten up or even killed if they try to fight back. The reason for the many murders could have something to do with the increased number of weapons on the street. In an interview with a former gang member Catherine Mayer discovers that it wasn't normal for youth gang members to own a weapon 20 years ago but it sure is now. Back in the days it was normally only the leader or top dog that owned a weapon. Another topic Catherine discusses is alcohol. It is not hard to tell by the numbers Catherine Mayer gives us on the youngsters' alcohol habits that there are something wrong. 27 % of 15 year olds in Britain have been drunk more than 20 times. Catherine Mayer's article not only focuses on the problem but also the reasons and solutions. It's not difficult to conclude that there is a problem but what is the reason for this problem? Catherine Mayer presents us to the idea that it is the young peoples relation to their parents or just grown ups in general that is the reason. Professor Richard Layard from the London School of Economics says: "Young people live in a world with very little meaningful contact or engagement to adults". And the little contact of relation that the young people have to adults is not great either. If we look at the examples that are shown by the media you wouldn't get surprised about the youngsters alcohol habits. Catherine Mayer describes how prince William and Harry are often seen at nightclubs drinking heavily. This is not a great example so set at all but of course you can't only blame the media. Catherine Mayer thinks the main reason is the situation at home.