Youth violence is not about race

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We are failing miserably to provide Britain's teenage boys with meaningful occupations, worthy role models or hope for the future. David Lammy, minister for skills, writes in the New Statesman:

In recent weeks, politicians have gestured towards this issue. When David Cameron raised the responsibility of some fathers in the black community, he covered no new ground. We know that loving parents and male role models matter. We know that 59 per cent of black Caribbean children are looked after by a lone parent. But I winced as another round of banner headlines tarred every father in the black community with the same brush. And, like others, my reaction was that more back-to-basics speeches won't get us very far. The questions that need to be answered for children of all races and social backgrounds are: what can we do when there is no father in a young man's life? And how can society nurture the development and socialisation of young men before a culture of violence robs them of their futures?

The crucial point is this: a resilient economy cannot substitute for a good society. And providing young men with the love and opportunities for personal development they need cannot be left to the accident of birth or the whim of charity.

Politicians who grew up enjoying structure, consistency, responsible male role models and an abundance of opportunities for education and enrichment need to do more than lecture others when they reach adult life. The community must play a role in providing those essential ingredients where they are lacking. This takes more than a vague recognition of "society"; it requires an active state.

Boys under pressure (Research by Adam Lewitt)

• 97% of juvenile offenders aged 15-17 are boys
• 13% of boys aged 11-15 suffer from a mental disorder, compared with 10% of girls
• 76% of boys aged 11 achieve government-set literacy levels (85% of girls do)
• 57% of boys achieved A-C grade GCSEs in 2007, compared with 66% of girls
• 75% of all suicides occur among young men aged 15-34. Suicide is the second most common way for a male aged 15-34 to die
• 70%+ of males aged under 18 who are charged for one offence go on to commit further crimes
• 9 out of 10 gang members are male

As reported in the New Statesman