I think it depends on how you look at it, we have gangs of 'lads' that loitre but you mustn't let them intimidate you, which is pretty dam hard to do. Most won't say boo to a goose, but we are in an age where the press and media feed us this fear too. I won't be so naieve as to say that things are bad though, as when I was in school, we had running fights with the next comp, we had fights in school too, but I don't ever remember a group picking on one person and kicking the stuffing out of them.
I also don't think it is soley the lack of discipline at home either, I think the degredation of the quality of programmes, the films that are produced, the computer games also, and yes I know these are rated over 18, for most, but they are freely available. The easy access to the interenet and sites like YouTube, who, really should have a social responsibility to remove unsuitable content and do random checks on what is being posted.
Basicaly, the boundaries have been basicaly removed, so the people who are willing to, will constantly push the limits till they come up to a boundary, be it smashing wing mirrors to breaking in and assaulting senior citizens.
Maybe, like in some areas, a curfew is a good idea, personaly I think putting more resources into have a physical Police presence on the streets, and them not being tied up dealing with paperwork for a good portion of their time, also allowing them more power and not be open to accusation so easily either.
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