I very much welcome this news and hope that the others are brought to trial soon.
The background of Norris in particular was highly unusual. However, I really do hope that future focus will not be just on the two of them - or five - or six - and on the police. The members of the gang may have operated as if they were on their own diabolical island but that island flourished because of ongoing complexities in society.
We need political solutions. Extreme violent crime among youth in London is out of control. Much of it directly reflects the inadequacies of governance. There is no reason to think that Hogan-Howe and his team will duck policing reform. For once, we have a policeman who focuses on policing rather than media and politics. Parliament though has to do its bit.
For starters, as the compulsory school leaving age is about to rise to 17 and later to 18, it is a good time to look at the broad legal definitions of adulthood. I strongly believe that the full weight of the law should be applicable to those aged 16 when, after all, the law accepts that people are old enough to be responsible parents to others.
The background of Norris in particular was highly unusual. However, I really do hope that future focus will not be just on the two of them - or five - or six - and on the police. The members of the gang may have operated as if they were on their own diabolical island but that island flourished because of ongoing complexities in society.
We need political solutions. Extreme violent crime among youth in London is out of control. Much of it directly reflects the inadequacies of governance. There is no reason to think that Hogan-Howe and his team will duck policing reform. For once, we have a policeman who focuses on policing rather than media and politics. Parliament though has to do its bit.
For starters, as the compulsory school leaving age is about to rise to 17 and later to 18, it is a good time to look at the broad legal definitions of adulthood. I strongly believe that the full weight of the law should be applicable to those aged 16 when, after all, the law accepts that people are old enough to be responsible parents to others.
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