Frederick Clarke's community view

OBV Graduate Frederick Clarke who is the Director of Croydon based charity Might Men of Valour speaks about the cause of the riots and their implications for BME communities.

I think, with regards to these Riots, we all have failed as a community (i.e. Parents, Schools, Teachers, Social Workers, Faith Community, the Government and the Police, the list goes on).

When I think about my parents and all the work that they did to make a positive contribution and investment in the UK, I am now sadden that we have not been able to maintain this legacy with our youth, both black and white.

There seems to be many excuses for the present riots, but few seem to be based on the injustices of the Police; but they seem to be based on anarchy and self destruction.

Even if there is a conspiracy theory, that I hear a lot of young people talk of, I still have to question the method in this madness, because this behaviour only condones 'stop and search' and other police powers that will undoubtedly be put into place in the coming months leading to the Olympics.

I have heard it stated on TV that an appeal has been made for parents to locate their children and call them home! However, if children are on the streets, can these parents force their children to come home, especially, if all of their parental powers seem to have been erased over the years?

Our children seem to have slightly more rights than their parents, especially within the home, and only the law/discipline, via the police, seems to be able to punish them, whether or not they do anything wrong, when they are on the streets.

The question is: Have our children now become a law unto themselves? I sincerely hope not! Are we as parents become powerless to protect, defend and even chastise our children? I think we have.

Where do we go from here? As we have given all responsibility over to the State, I am sure the State will give us an answer. If this means bring in water cannons and/or the Army - all we can do is wait and see.

Is it too late to bring discipline, respect and responsibility back into our homes and onto our streets? I hope not!

Until then, we can definitely pray, but remember, faith without works is dead!

Frederick Clarke, Mighty Men of Valour

Picture: Frederick Clarke