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Desmond Riley |
‘Violent young offenders? Call in the military’
A LEADING Islington community worker has called for violent young offenders to do a spell of military training “to introduce a bit of discipline into their lives.”
Desmond Riley, voluntary coordinator with the Holloway Link up Project, argues there is no point in putting violent trouble-makers into overflowing prisons, where they only meet similar offenders, reinforcing criminal tendencies.
Mr Riley, based in Seven Sisters Road, said: “The devil makes work for idle hands and these young offenders are doing nothing worthwhile in prison apart from learning new tricks of the trade. It would be far better for them to get a dose of real discipline in the army.”
He added that while “crime, greed and love of money” has increased in society, there appeared to be little real discipline these days in homes and schools.
“Parents are scared to tell their children off,” he said, “and as a result those kids think they can walk the streets and shout abuse at an adult. Frankly it’s disgusting, but these kids know they will get away with it.”
Mr Riley says primary schools in the borough do instill discipline, but there is little at secondary school, where there is pressure for young people to act and talk tough.
“I see a lot of these young men with their trousers down to their bums,” he said. “They say it is the fashion. But not only do I think it doesn’t look very nice, I believe it is an aggressive mode of dress. I think it sends out the wrong message.”
Mr Riley said that military training would be like a “rite of passage” for many young men.
He added: “They can do something positive for the community. And if they still want to fight, well there’s always that option.”
Islington Labour leader Councillor Catherine West said she supported the option of military training for those who wanted to do it.
She said: “I agree prison isn’t always the most suitable punishment and in the army people can often learn a trade. But it should be a voluntary thing.”
Adrian Berrill-Cox, Conservative Prospective candidate for Islington North, said he agreed with many of Mr Riley’s points.
“Army discipline won’t do anyone any harm,” he said. “The problem might be that a lot of these kids don’t have qualifications and you can’t join up without some qualifications.”
He added that if elected at the general election next year, Conservatives are considering bringing back a form of national service or citizenship.
“It won’t be a military thing,” Mr Berrill-Cox said. “But you would spend about four weeks doing community projects under supervision.” |
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