Teenagers blame cushy prisons for crime rise
TEENAGERS in London blame "weak" prisons, boredom and a lack of youth facilities for escalating knife violence, it emerged today.
Youths across the city said jail was not a deterrent and called on Mayor Boris Johnson to introduce more social clubs and facilities.
The insight is in an online film featuring interviews with 1,000 young people who were asked how life in the capital could be improved.
It was released as three men were charged with murdering 19-year-old Nabil Bakurally in Ilford last Saturday. He was the 28th teenager to die violently in London this year.
Among those interviewed for the "Reel Change" project was Kashelle, 17, who has recently been released from jail. She said: "Prison does not work. I have been in numerous times and it shortens your temper - it does not make you better. They need to send people to a boot camp, not prison. You still get luxuries in prison. You are not meant to be getting luxuries for committing crime.
"We should get some more youth clubs and music studios. Young people like music and back in the day there used to be lots of youth clubs we could visit. Now there are hardly any."
Another teenager, 17-year-old Danielle, said sentences needed to be tougher. She said: "I know people going in and out of prison. They have X-Boxes, Playstation 2 and 3s, TVs - that is like getting sent to your room for stabbing someone."
Wesley, 15, who has been excluded from mainstream education, said boredom was a major factor behind carrying knives and crime.
He told filmmakers: "For some people it is like a fashion. You think, 'That little boy has got some money, let me take it off him.' Or you are bored. You have nothing to do so you think let's have a laugh and do that to someone else. Afterwards you feel kind of guilty, but just a little bit."
The film was created by Tower Hamlets Summer University - a charity that works with young people during school holidays.
It is backed by London Youth Offer, a £79million project by the London Development Agency and the Government to provide more services for young Londoners. Youth Offer will run until 2010, with £20million from the LDA and £59 million from Government.
Mr Johnson has launched his own anti-knife action plan focusing on tackling truancy, boosting sports facilities and increasing the opportunity for children in care to go to university. He said: "This film gives real insight into views on youth crime.
"It was made before I launched my action plan but the comparisons are clear - from first-time offenders saying prison doesn't work to young people asking for more skills training and jobs. The benefits of character-building youth organisations and community sports clubs were also obvious."
Sarah Davies, THSU chief executive, said the project had "provided our students with the opportunity to represent young Londoners and get their voices heard".
