I'm never quite sure if Damo is trolling or not when he takes this tack but to some extent he has a point.

I don't think society is broken and crime stats would seem to back up the thought that the perception of crime is greater than the incidence - despite more reporting of crime and more surveliance.

As a general rule there is probably less respect than I recall their being 25 years ago but more respect doesn't necessarily equate to less crime as there's always been groups who resent authority and the 'haves' and may use crime to lash out at them. I suspect the diminished respect is more among the mainstream who are probably still unlikely to commit crime (barring that induced by alcohol or drugs), and its not the mainstream Damo is talking about.

Whilst it could conceivably play a part I don't think corporal punishment is some panacea either. I remember getting the cane at school and never saw it as a deterrent. At best it was just something to be regarded as an occupational hazzard and at worst it was seen as a badge of honour amongst mates.

People who feel desperate or hopeless may well take desperate measures and if you've gone through life feeling you've been regulalrly kicked by society being kicked again is no deterrent.

However, I do think there's been a change in the types of crime and drug and alcohol related crime feel far more prevalent than in my younger years, but again, a teenage lad having a fight after 8 pints or robbing a house to feed his cocaine addiction isn't really going to fear society's consequences or feel restrained by the moral aspect of his upbringing.

No. England football took precedence over his RL club on Saturday.

Now a murder inquiry

Condolences to that victims family, friends and all who knew him.

May this man RIP

Just heard this on the news!!!

For all of you who blame a broken soicety,just remember which generation raised them.