Research by the Children's Commissioner for England has revealed that thrill-seeking and a distrust of police were the main drivers behind young people's involvement in last summer's riots, rather than online misinformation. The report, based on interviews with 14 teenagers charged in relation to the disorder, contradicts the prevailing narrative that right-wing influences or racist sentiment spurred the riots. Instead, the report highlights the urgent need to address poverty, provide opportunities for young people, and foster positive relationships between children and the police.
Research by the Children's Commissioner suggests that thrill-seeking and a distrust of police were the primary motivators for young people's involvement in last summer's riots, rather than online misinformation. Dame Rachel de Souza's office interviewed approximately one-fifth of the children charged in relation to the disorder that erupted following the murders of three girls in Southport .
Axel Rudakubana was recently sentenced to 52 years for the triple killing and the attempted murder of eight other children and two adults at a dance class last July. In the aftermath of the stabbings, false claims circulated on social media, fueling riots across various parts of England. However, Dame Rachel stated that her office's interviews with 14 under-18s charged with participating in the disorder indicated motivations that differed from the prevalent narrative attributing their actions to misinformation, racism, or right-wing influences. In a report released on Tuesday, she emphasized, 'What emerged from the conversations I had with the young people themselves was striking, and often unsettling. Many children described making a split-second decision, their involvement being largely spontaneous and unconsidered, driven by curiosity or the thrill of the moment to see what was going on in their community. Others described a deep distrust of the police and the opportunity to retaliate against a previous interaction.'The report further stated that information from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) revealed that 147 children were arrested by September 4th, 84 were charged, and 73 had finalized outcomes by the end of October. Over three-quarters (78 percent) of the charges were filed in northern England. Of the 14 children interviewed by the commissioner's office, many had no prior criminal justice experience and reported feeling curious about the unfolding events, believing it appeared entertaining, or seeking free goods. The report emphasized that all 14 'made it clear that they did not get involved due to far-right, anti-immigration or racist views.' The report did not disclose the ages or genders of the 14 children to protect their anonymity. It concluded that the government's swift response to the disorder 'led to most children receiving unusually severe charges and sentences.' Dame Rachel stated, 'Rehabilitation and addressing the underlying causes for their involvement was not the primary objective, pushing many children off pathways towards becoming independent, productive adults.' Dame Rachel urged the government to address poverty and provide more opportunities like youth activities and employment to prevent children from becoming vulnerable to exploitation and crime. She stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of disaffection and disempowerment among young people
RIOTS CHILDREN POLICE MISINFORMATION TEENAGERS SOCIAL MEDIA SOUTHPORT ENGLAND
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