Young Blacks more likely to commit crime?

[algarve addick]

An MP whose name escapes me at present, recently commented, in some quarters somewhat controversially, that blacks are more likely to commit crime than their white counterparts.
Whilst not wishing to sound racist in any way, I have to say that, from where I live in South East London, this opinion cannot be considered to be in the least bit controversial.
Gangs of black youths are running amok in this neighbourhood, with muggings, rape and gratuitous violence just a way of everyday life.
The recent high profile case of the young lawyer slain in cold blood is becoming far too commonplace in our society, and it is little surprise that emigration is now at an all time high.
What the causes are for such abhorent gangster behaviour amongst these people are obviously open to debate, but my guess is that, as ever, the parents have a huge role to play in their offspring's upbringing.
At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy duddy,ex army major, this country could do worse than to reintroduce some form of National Service, to give life some meaning, discipline and direction to youngsters who are headed for a lifetime of criminality.

[Sam Slater]

Controversial? Yes, Correct? Maybe.

I was always under the assumption that crimes of burglary & criminal damage were mainly caused by white offenders, whereas violent crimes like armed robbery & muggings were mainly caused by black offenders. All in all I guess white people commit more crimes than blacks or ethnic minorities.

However when you look at crimes 'per person' and compare certain groups, blacks have a bigger percentage of offenders than whites. Statistically you're more likely to be middle/upper class being white, so the real comparisons should be white working class v black/ethnic working class and compare the results as a percentage of that particular population.

I live in a large Asian area, and from my point of view, Asians commit more crime. I guess if I lived in a mainly 'white' area then it would seem whites commit more crime.

It's a hard one to conclude.

[one eyed jack]

Well we can always be controversial by saying there are more white kiddy fiddlers than black but that would be distracting from the issue at large. If you focus on the percentage of crime in an area mainly populated by blacks like Peckham, Brixton and such then your 100% right. Black people will agree with you.

Crime is crime no matter the hue of the man. The question that demands an answer is how do we remedy this? To speculate on anything else means nothing at this stage.

[Jonone]

What kind of meaning can the Army offer a young man? A premature death in Iraq ?

[one eyed jack]

Maybe thats what he was implying Jonone. Or to be less cynical he may have meant that joining a military school would be good to get some discipline and sense of direction in a young offenders life.

[Gentleman]

I was more hopefull that they would be made join up and then get killed.

[one eyed jack]

Gentleman, given these thugs propensity for violence and murder, what makes you think they wouldnt have a ball joining the army to kill. Thing is, if they survive their tour of duty you've got a hardened and violent criminal to allow back in society no wredeemed as a war hero so as funny as your comment was, the sad truth remains. Next suggestion please?

I quite like the mexican way. Tie them up to a post in the street and place a placard of what offence they committed and urge passers by to beat them with sticks, spit at them and break eggs on them and leave them there for a couple of days but I know in all practicality it would never work.

[Gentleman]

ive never heard of that mexican approach and needless to say thats just what we could do with, it justice seen to be done by the community and done by the community.