Ok fatherless kids and gang culture have a lot to do with the obvious problems. But you will never solve the problem if you believe in socialworker babble. Kids carry knives and guns becasue they no longer get stopped, searched and banged up for a very long time (I mean real punishment) if caught. There are no-go areas because police stations no longer exist, police no longer want to do anything that is slightly dangerous, and because so called modern planners have developed hideous, dark, car free spaces for kids to loiter in (fortunately I'm not talking about Forest Hill/HOP here!). No one wants to pay for extra staff on trains, buses and stations anymore - we all want our services to be as cheap as possible, so the chances of getting caught and punished are slim. If you misbehave at school (if you even bother to go to school), it doesnt matter cos the govt wont let you starve if you dont get a job and you cant speak proper init anyway. Tax payers money for all. Get pregnant and the state will look after you. Get pregnant and create another fatherless kid for the cycle to continue. That's how deep you have to look.

On a more realistic note, the govt should not be selling off school play grounds, there should be more competitive sport, encouraged in schools and clubs. F Hill swimming pools should be opened as as a matter of priority. No more free bus rides allowed, which makes kids fat and lazy. etc

Phew - I think I should stop....