• Attack: Youths set fire to teacher's hair on train
• Bridge crash: Three in hospital after bicycle, bus and motorbike collision

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I hope that Mr David is ok and recovers speedily and without any further problems. His family must be very worried about him.
There seems to be little consequences to some actions people take these days. When you pick up a stick it has two ends but this does not seem to always apply anymore. I don't think you can lay the blame at the door of any government or indeed those people who continue to wrap people in cotton wool, we all make up society and so all have a part to play in this. Rough areas have always existed in the UK and people have been beaten up but just because this happened 100 years ago and before does not excuse it today. We are after all meant to be evolving aren't we?
If this continues then some members of our society will take it into their own hands. I am sure that this has been talked about by people, it is maybe a natural step if this continues as people want to protect their families. Shouldn't we be allowed to do so.

- Sel, Wrexham, Wales

Why have we let this lawlessness get out of control like this?
How about Parents and Teachers getting stricter with the kids again, yes including being punished for doing anything seriously wrong. Go soft on kids and they know they can get away with too much. The only ones that seem to interact these days have nothing to do but hang around like they are part of the Mafia TRYING to look surly and hard. Maybe National Service should be brought back to try and bring our kids up to be a better class of people, (I didn't do NS though)
I know the majority of kids are fine, but the situation is not getting any better and is happening in other countries too.
Time to stop relying on traffic cameras to get prosecution numbers up to targets, get the police cars back on the streets.
Drop the CPS and have the Police lawyers to prosecute again. Toughen up the PACE act and start going soft on the criminals, we were probably better off in the days of "Dixon of Dock Green"
Rant over.....

- Frank, London

Violent crime happens in every country in the world, if we want to learn how to stop it we should look at our European partners, Luxembourg, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, have some of the lowest murder rates in the world all with less than 1 per 100000, Norways is only 0.73. London has a rate of 2.1 quite good in the grand scheme.

For the people that are so in love with Miami it murder rate is 19.6, that’s about the same as Kazakhstan.

To those who think that punishment is the way, with 3,318 people on death row in the US why does it boast such high homicide rates. Do you really think that people committing murder deliberate there actions before hand based on the potential punishment they might get?.

Murder rates all around the world boil down to 2 simple facts, how poor are the people in the area and what means to they have to kill each other. If their very poor and they have guns the murder rate is high.

My opinion is, the European countries with low homicide rates share 3 factors, good social care, low educational, financial and social inequality, and no freely available fire arms. You want safe streets that what you need to strive for.

- Iain, London

"Although it's not acceptable to use violence, we don't know why these youths attacked this man. Could it be that he almost ran them down..?"

Mark H has a fair point here. The attack might have occurred for that reason. Alternative to accidentally bumping with his front tyre he may have looked at them the wrong way. Or perhaps he had the cheek to sound his bell at them. The main thing is he shouldn’t have been cycling after dark in Britain in the first place. This is called being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

- Paul S, Epsom, England

Prison sentences do not work, what is needed is corporal punishment, people who inflict pain must mad to suffer pain commensurate with what they inflicted, only this could work as a deterrent, and make a would be perpetrator think twice before slashing someone's face for fun...
and don't start on this stupid litany that we are civilised and drama queen we don't do that sort of thing, because I will flash you back with we are decadent and what we are getting is a taste of that decadence examplified by stratas of our populations turning into monsters against us...
actually, come to think of it, nothink is more unnatural than prison and prisoners, but corporal punishment does make sense, and so does rewards systems, these are 101 behavioural psychology which we are choosing to ignore.
Lastly, I finally understand why so many governments have abolished capital punishment, it is not out of humane principles, far from it, rather it is to protect the rich and powerful from being the recipients of such a law... makes you wonder...

- Nabil H, London, UK

For what it's worth, I live quite close to the street where it happened. I do consider the Watersedge council estate and the Greenlands gypsy camp to be very rough areas, not so bad during the day but plagued by groups of loiterers in the evening, who *will* chase you (and who *have* chased me before) for no readily apparent reason (although I've always managed to shake them off myself so far).

My own street in Surbiton is much safer (I live in purpose-built flats) but I still think this incident is way too close to home for me. The contrast with Cox Lane and Ruxley Lane couldn't be more stark. It's not even that the area is full of 1950's brutalist architecture - it isn't, on the contrary, the accommodation is low-rise, and it's got lots of public green space nearby, including Tolworth Court Farm Fields Nature Reserve and the Hogsmill Open Space. But it doesn't appear to have a civilising influence on the loiterers.

What I will say though is that the generalisations about the whole of Britain are a load of nonsense. That particular street is way way rougher than my own street, and I can see it with my own two eyes.

- Fred, Surbiton

On the one hand, parents can beat and kill their own children to death, like in the Baby P case, and on the other hand they can completely ignore them and let them run wild. Where is the balance? depressing ...

- Cath, SE Europe

I live near where this attack took place & to be honest; this is quite normal around that area. There are 2 gangs that roam the streets at night so this was a attack that was waiting to happen. Im not suprised at all and to be honest; knowing Surrey police. These people will not be caught; it's disgraceful.

- Rebecca, Epsom, Surrey

As I see it there is a tremendous pressure for couples to have children in Britain, but with that pressure comes the need for responsible parenting. One is present, the other is often absent.

- Mark, Venice, Italy

I live near where this attack took place & to be honest; this is quite normal around that area. There are 2 gangs that roam the streets at night so this was a attack that was waiting to happen. Im not suprised at all and to be honest; knowing Surrey police. These people will not be caught; it's disgraceful.

- Rebecca, Epsom, Surrey

This country is now beyond hope. "Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" Yeah right.

- David, Fleet UK

Thank goodness I left England too!

- Robert, Philadelphia USA

Yes Robert, after all, Philly doesn't have any violent crimes does it! I seem to remember last summer being a particular violent one with all the shootings and killings amongst the city's youth.

- Mark, Atlanta, USA

Why do so many people blame the government. Are parents not responsible for their kids anymore & expect the government to be. Get real. That is probably why kids have no respect these days.

Irene Rybinska - You have the right idea. Get these fighting kids in to the army. Get them sent somewhere to fight a war.

- Dom, London

A couple of inches away from this article is another where 4 youths set fire to a teacher's hair on a train - for no reason.

Until such time as genuinely stringent punishment is brought to bear on both recalcitrant parents and their feral offspring, this behaviour will continue unabated -simple.

There is a genuine absence of will to do anything which will, initially, stem the tide of this increasing criminal behavour and then lead to more effective controls that will act as a sufficient deterrent to keep our streets so much more safe.

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England

So where is the surveillance footage? I thought we, in Britain, had more CCTV cameras than the rest of the world combined. Oh silly me they're only for extorting money from motorists or litter louts.
I guess if the culprits are ever caught they will be given stupendously lenient sentences. Let's hope this poor chap makes a speedy recovery.

- Paul, Kent

Katrina, I'm always amazed by you Germans, taking one idiotic comment and attributing it to the entire British population. Oh hang on I'm half German. Whoops. Maybe you're right, it is the individual rather than the collective that is at fault. In this case, you.

- Ben, London

When I am back in the USA I would teach them to respect a senior who has a V10 .45 cal/ 30 round in his vehicle and not to bring a knife to a gun fight. The most law abiding cities I have lived in were those with sensible gun laws.
When they outlaw guns only the outlaws will have guns

- Ereed, Bournemouth,UK

To: Gillian of Miami Florida.
You say you have moved to Miami because Britain is a “violent society, not even safe to walk/ride a bike down the street” While I also would never live there either and I agree with you, but I too have lived many years in the US. I find your comment hilarious that you can make such a comment about England but live in Miami, a city I know rather well. You live in a state where it is legal for members of the public to carry around concealed hand guns. Gosh, what a Garden of Eden it has become...I must hurry back...gimme a break Gillian!

- Mel Barrows., Tenerife. Canary Islands.

Maybe it is because there is no Law or Morals anymore that these 'ferals' are free to roam in packs and follow their own animal instincts. Yes much of our Country is ruled by the law of the jungle.
There is no fear of parents, teachers, Police or public anymore because there are no consequences and these kids have got away with it since babies, or learnt and observed from others that they can. The youngest of a group, maybe 4 or 5 looking up at, and almost worshipping the exploits of the 'qangsta' older youths who brage of their exploits.
The Law is to protect and safeguard all the citizans of this Country not the minority Law breaker. Until the breaking of the Law at an early age meets with consequences, which the individuak either learns from OR suffers and is shown to suffer in front of their little gang, so much so, that they will think twice before doing anything similiar, knowing the consequences of a repeat action will be even worse, there is no hope.
Ultimately if after a number of offences there is no change then the criminal should be removed from Society for the protection of Society.
Instead of giving the banker 700 billion we could have given the 699 and spent the 1 billion on doubling the POlice and had them on these kids 24 / 7.

- Clif, London

Thank goodness I left England too!

- Robert, Philadelphia USA

My prayers and thoughts are with this man and his loved ones and pray he makes a full recovery. The trouble is these low lifes know they can do anything and get away with it as they will not get a heavy sentence. Until we stop pandering to these people and put them away and off the streets for a long time they will be roaming the streets and attacking other people. What a country !

- Linda Cliff, London

I think this has a lot to do with Labour. Children are taught that they are above the law, that teachers can not tell them off, that parents who punish are abusing, that a youth leader who shouts at them is lacking in control, that a stranger who dares defend themselves is wrong. In the eyes of modern Britain children are innocent, they are products of society, they are to be understood and to be left to run riot. They are all but above the law, and they know it.

- Stephen, London

Frank, Home Counties; of course, before evil Labour there was no crime, was there? In the good old days everyone walked around singing a happy tune? Old ladies were safe and murder just didn't happen? I blame New Labour for the Yorkshire Ripper, myself.

- Dectora, London UK

Although I am not aware of the full circumstances as to why this person was attacked it's about time the parents of these teenagers take a more proactive role in awareness of what is happening outside the home. A lot of these teenagers leave home to meet friends for the day looking and acting innocent and are involved reckless undesirable criminal activity. For heaven sake parents WAKE UP!

- Stephen, London

I don't suppose I will still be alive the day a Govenment is this country starts getting tough, getting really, really tough so this sort of thing becomes a distant memory. The bottom line is punishments do NOT fit the crime. No doubt these low-lifes will get a rap on the knuckles if caught. Mark H: Sounds like you are condoning this act of violence.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

Frank I think you might be right here. If I were to even think about doing something like this as a teenager I would have received such a beating from my father that I wouldn’t have been able to walk for a week. In this day and age parents are too scared to discipline kids for fear of being thrown in jail for child abuse. This country’s gone to pot can’t wait to emigrate, roll on January 2010.

- Pc, Essex

Simon Caleb: surely the point about feral youth is this. If the parents of such children abrogate their responsibilities to bring them up, shall we say, properly, it then becomes an "issue" for the state, for which read New Labour for the last 17 years.

If the state then does not act to stem such behaviour, so as to achieve effective results,then in my book they are qually to blame.

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England

Have you lost your mind Mark H? Even if he did have a near miss there was no justification whatsoever for such savage retribution. That you would even try to defend their actions speaks volumes about how low elements of this country have sunk.

- Jim, London

@ Simon Caleb, London

Simon in a sense you are right it has a great deal to with failed parenting. But that lack of parental responsibility has been engendered by a Totalitarian government where absolutely all aspects of your every day life is legislated for you.

Free will is something very alien to a socialist government. When you do not have the ability to make your own free choices then lethargy ensues and you end up making no decisions at all.

The social engineering that has taken place under this Liberal-Lefty morally corrupt government has created a cancer in our society that we will have to deal with through another generation.

For another part our pathetic justice system means we are impotent in dealing with these scum. Time and time again I have heard police and probationary services talk about revolving doors for these individuals. Arrested, court, released.

Prison is not a threat because it is never an option in the first place, thanks to the bleeding heart Liberals.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

Frank is right.
Mark H sounds like one of the usual Labour apologists.

TOUGHER SENTENCES!!!!

- Rollo, London

Mark H, what an idiot! Yes, we don't know the reason, but name one reason that would be acceptable?

- Paul, London

I kind of agree with Frank to a certain extent. Soft policing, and short custodial sentences have contributed to todays violent youth. Frank, as you yourself even state "..it's not acceptable to use violence", certainly to this degree whereby it is attempted murder.

- Natty, London

-St, the reason you didn't read about this in the 80's was because we didn't have such easy access to the internet. Cox Lane has always had a few trouble makers, even in the 80’s. It’s down to bad parenting not the government.

- Elaine, Ewell

The only people to blame are the people that did this,St London,well i can remember incidents like this in the 50s never mind the 80s,remember the teddy boys!Mark H,London England,Mate i can not think of any reason for 4 guys to almost beat a guy to death,are you mad!

- Kev, London-UK

Oh Mark H really - so if a cyclist is nearly involved in a collision it's ok to drag him from his bike and kick him is it? That's precisely the problem in this country now. Violence is the default option in any confrontation, with the weak and cowardly also carrying weapons to make up for their physical inadequacies.So trivial arguments turn into the taking of a life. But I guess that's ok eh Mark.

- Tom, london

MARK 'Ran them down' -what, on his bike?
I tend to agree with Simon. -'Failed parenting' is the modern curse of Britain! -and as long as 'child-breeding' is financially rewarded by Gov't and used as a form of income by some, I see no hope of change!

- Tony H, Cumbernauld Scotland

I guess the Nu Labor experiment of keeping police away from any danger is not exactly working...

- Peteo, London

Mark H,

I would have to agree with Frank, we have had two similar attacks in our local area. One guy was walking his dogs and was set upon the other was a 16 year old lad who was jumped on by a group of 15 youths. Not a bicycle in sight.

- David, London

"Although it's not acceptable to use violence, we don't know why these youths attacked this man. Could it be that he almost ran them down..?"

Mark

What planet do you live on, So he may have possibly run them over, that's okay then to nearly kick him to death.

- David, London

There is no excuse, reason for 4 men to beat up 1 and to leave him for dead. If he swore at them or whatever. What kind of society are we living in that this is acceptable behaviour.

- Jk, London

I am utterly disgusted by the actions of these thugs. It is a reminder as to why I left England and why i will never move back. It has become a violent society, not even safe to walk/ride a bike down the street.

- Gillian, miami, FL

I am always amazed by you Brits. There is a man who is fighting for his life because a group of youth attacked him. And it is the Goverments fault in your eyes. Surely not! Do you not have a bit of sympathy for this man or his family? Hitting out at labour or any other party reflects your own ignorance and the way you obviously view incidents like that one. It is not the individual who is at fault it is the government. Who is voting for your government? In a democracy that would be YOU !!

- Katrina, Berlin, Germany

Mark H, London England , so i take it that its acceptable if someone beats you or someone you care about ,to an inch of your life , if they feel you have done something to affend them

- Adam, london

I guess the police is safely in their comfy offices doctoring the "Targets"...

- Moy, London

This scum should be sent out to fight in a war! Ideal location Afhghanistan that should sort them out and then we woukld see how hard they are!

- Irene Rybinska, London UK

Mark that is a ridiculous thing to say and would be a completely disproportionate response either way! Labour have seriously weakened every sort of discipline in society from parental responsibility to police on the beat. Maybe it's time for the innocent to arm themselves?

- Mark, London

Oh Frank really.
Although it's not acceptable to use violence, we don't know why these youths attacked this man. Could it be that he almost ran them down..?

- Mark H, London England

Simon, I don't recall reading stories like this when I was a lad growing up in the 80s. Frank is perfectly correct to blame the Labour-invented, "soft-target" policing we have to now endure.

- St, London

Re Frank, Home Counties,
Don't be so weak, this has little to do with Labour (as much as I'm unimpressed with their political track record) and everything to do with failed parenting. End of.

Stop passing the responsibility of ignorant parents to the politicians. And perhaps one day we'll have a Government who'll refrain from passing a law a day to deal with this stupidity.

- Simon Caleb, London

Labour's feral youth strike again.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

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