I believe it is the teenagers comitting the crimes who are members of gangs that are the route cause and problem of this topic. Their uneducation and limited respect they have for anyone else but themselves is a big problem and seems to be linked with their family life and financial situations. I think that a curfew for ALL under 18s needs to be put in place so that no hanging around the streets is allowed and fines or even arrest is the punishment. Places of solitude where these teenagers can go and enjoy themselves with friends is a good idea. Anything to discourage young people to hang around the streets and cause trouble or dislike someone just for coming from another area or postcode! Gangs and looking up to those in gangs is also promoted, I feel, through the culture of rap music - they rap about guns and gangs as though it is 'cool' to be a part of such a culture. The youth of today are the adults of tomorrow (if they make it past 20 years old) and that I feel is the most worrying part of it all - will they become the adult versions of the knife wielding, gun toting teenagers they are now?!

I don't think anyone would say anything other than the knife crime situation is appalling, young people killing young people, adults being scared to tackle youths - things really are messed up. I guess there are many factors which contrubute to changes in the society. I think the media plays a large part of the problem highlighting the problems for other youths to read and to find out that the police has limited powers and that adults are scared to confront people. I think that there is a lack of consequences for young people (well people in general in the UK) we get everything given to us on a plate. There is no discipline for children, bring back canning!!! Also we have developed more of a US style gang culture which means people are prepared to kill others for looking the wrong way or something similiar.

My personal opinion on this topic (being a girl with both tattoos and piercings) is that it is a personal choice. I feel though on a personal level that tattoos although they are of course, permanent, are a constant reminder of the person you are and what you like. Of course when you reach your 50s/60s they are not going to look as good as they did when you were in your 20s but they remind us of the life we have lived and sometimes the things we have achieved or the people we have met. My tattoos will remind me of who I am and who I was as a young girl when I am older. I feel that you only live once and our bodies are just a means of transporting our souls to the next 'life' if you like. I don't see it as mutilation but art!

dont like tatoos dont mind piercing in right places