As ASBO's do not seem to be working as most perpetrators seem to be breaching their punishment what has happened to community spirit within most people these days?

To actually make a change in the behaviour politicians say is not really a government issue although I think during the last ten years there has been a spiralling downslide and the current somewhat non-caring but more nanny state are partly to blame.

So we are told by politicians to tackle it from the source. I saw an interview today with 'hoody hugger' David Cameron who said it was up to responsible members of the community meaning 'Jo public ' to deal with say anti-social behavoiur on a bus and it needed to be done on mass from like minded passengers uniting in their efforts. The problem of this behaviour is it will not just go away from these bullyish type louts who attention seek and control in such fashion hanging around like cowards in gangs and get away with what they do. 'Together they stand divided we fall' in this case

There is an irony in all this the government have even closed clic here their 'anti-social' website. Now theres helpfulness for you or are the Home Office still asleep?

I agree with Mr Cameron - if we all took a stand against anti-social behaviour in day to day life then it would stop. Instead we do nothing, too scared to take action. But if everyone took action and came together to tackle yobs and unruly children, then it would be a more easier reaction. It's a shift in culture that's needed, not more endless government initiatives which only please the brain dead media.

I agree with standing against anti-social behaviour too David if people tackle these minority attention seekers they would soon shut-up, 'strength in numbers'. If this was to happen I would readily use public transport.

Tackle them and end up in court for your trouble,or worse,a knife in your chest.

.........Dont tackle them and end up mugged by a gang of them! Cmon Avron I dont mean wade in physically the problem need addressing because its not being! If yuo act in a non aggressive way by simply asking someone to stop doing something and you have support in numbers then surely these people are your witnesses. I am no hero but with the help of almost a train carriage once we managed to quell some excited teens who obviously thought they would get no challenge to their rowdy behaviour. You clearly need to assess the situation. One passenger recorded their rowdiness on his mobile phone and the youths were prosecuted. Perhaps even recording the event would help.
Remember this problem has become exclusive to our country. It will escalate if it is not adressed ; gangs of youths now mug people in the cities in broad daylight whilst people just look on!

"In union there is strength."
--Aesop

David Cameron seems to drop a grenade, as somebody put it on Radio 5 tonight, and then retire, leaving the debate to others. Somebody else pointed out that Margaret Thatcher said much the same thing back in 1987.

I know someone who has worked at a large supermarket for some years. Young children are often left to run around the store to the annoyance of others, whilst their parents shop, oblivious to where they are or what they are doing (don't think of telling them off though as their parents may well complain and the manager will have to give them compensation). It may be that these same parents exercise the same degree of control at home. If this so, is it any wonder that there can be problems when the children get older?

You know and I know the majority of people would see the irresponsible parents as being in the wrong yet the issue is not tackled. Based on my point really as people turn a blind eye to this we indirectly are shaping the future as the kids got away with it until the irresponsible parent realizes they are in the wrong and soceity sets this precidence how can things change?

I'd agree with most of the points above. I'd also like to add that in my opinion anti social behaviour, while nothing new, is worse these days because kids know they cannot be touched. When I was young, and I'm only talking 15-20 years ago, I wouldn't have dared even be cheeky to an adult. Yet now, they just don't care. I blame the media for most things, but I suppose they are only reporting the wider world - but kids see the programmes like car wars where joy riders mow people down in a desperate bid to escape the chasing police, only to hear the voice over tell them at the end that the person caught was given a two month driving ban. Is it just me or if the message for things like joy riding was £10,000 fine and 10 year driving ban, would it be dramatically reduced? People no longer fear authority, because in our politically correct half measure society, there is nothing to fear.

Maybe I've missed the point but WHAT do we pay the police for??????????????????

Hmm... but there are plenty of situations (I know of one personally) where there's a harrassed single parent, often on welfare, who is actually somewhat frightened to tackle her teenage son because things have passed the stage where she/he can be physically controlled. The parent isn't always irresponsible - sometime she or he may actually be unable to do anything about it. At which point you might say Child Services should take over - except that, since the single parent isn't abusive and isn't doing anything wrong, they have no power to intervene "correctively".

Oftentimes the parents are in the wrong, but not always. Generalisations can be risky IMO.

Tony Blair's "respect czar" Louise Casey believes Britain needs to do more to promote good manners.The government adviser said a rise in single-parent families and less church-going were possible factors in falling levels of politeness.
Ms Casey believes we all have a role to play in making Britain a friendlier place to live.
She suggested buses could remind passengers to give up their seats to pregnant women and TV soap operas could portray a less gloomy side of life. Will she suceed or is it more up to us to promote this as 'responsible' citizens?

Here is her profile

She's right but as you say, she or the government can't force us to be polite, it's something we have to take responsibility for ourselves.

To be fair, most people are polite and considerate of others, the ones who aren't get all the publicity and attention so it's often easy to forget that.

Having said that I don't agree with her about the reasons for people lacking politeness, I never go to church but I consider myself polite and considerate, in fact it's pretty insulting to suggest that only the religious can be polite in my opinion. Most of the single parents I know are perfectly decent and polite people too.

I also thought that her comments were slightly discriminatory. I think she has a difficult task but as you say jonesey and what people forget is that the majority of people are responsible but are silenced by the aggressive yobbish controlling minority.