Riot report reveals '500,000 forgotten families'

A lack of support and opportunity for young people contributed to the outbreak of riots in England last year, an independent report has concluded.

The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel, set up last year, has identified "500,000 forgotten families".

It also cited poor parenting, an inability to prevent re-offending, too much emphasis on materialism, and a lack of confidence in the police.

Schools should work on helping children to build character, it added.

'Poor parenting'

It said: "Families aren't getting the support they need."

It supported a programme to help troubled families but found that overlap with those involved in the riots was limited.

"Government and local public services should develop a strategy incorporating the principles of the Troubled Families Programme to help 500,000 'forgotten families' turn their lives around", it said.

The report stated that up to 15,000 people were believed to have taken part in the riots - with the majority of those aged under 24 and with poor academic records.

The communities the panel spoke to blamed poor parenting for the riots.

The panel has recommended that schools which fail to raise pupils' literacy rates to the required minimum standard for their age should face a financial penalty.

Panel chairman Darra Singh said he was disappointed by the leak as the report, which was due to be published on Wednesday and presented to the prime minister, was still being finalised.

"Our remit was to give a voice to the communities and victims of the August riots. This leak has impacted on our ability to ensure they receive the widest possible audience," he said.

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17525873