David Cameron: Hoodie hugging and foreign policy in Sweden

[Lukestar1991]

David Cameron clearly doesnt have a clue what hes talking about; as usual.

It actually makes me giggle when i hear or see the words 'Change' and 'Conservative' in the same sentence.

[manyobbo456]

'ooh i had dinner last night'

well done congratulations fantastic , is it time for some tea ? or maybe some cheese

[FannoFlow]

Just call him Dave.

Dave the Tosser.

[happyspuds]

i woundlt hug a fucking hoodie if you paid me a 1000 pounds

[CULAVE]

Shogun2k7 cont... although it was seven years ago, its impact has remained. I believe experience is very formative in clarifying personal opinions and when it comes to serious crime I don't believe it should be tolerated. There is zero excuse for terrorising society and as such I believe there should be zero tolerance for the worst types of crime. Our neo-liberal experiment over several decades has utterly failed and the problem lies primarily in tolerating criminals.

[CULAVE]

I know ive hogged this comments section. But crime is a subject im pationate on. I know first hand what its like to go through the fear, stress, loneliness and mental anguish of serious crime and I feel comment sections on youtube are a good way to air opinions.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- The number of violent crime taking place when prisoners are on bail (released early) is shockingly high in the UK. This is yet another reason to support tough sentencing in reformed prisons.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- Perhaps you have been fortunate in never having to face a gang- or live with them terrorising you night after night- try and imagine what its like to be frightened to leave your own home. Criminals know exactly what they are doing. In developed countries there is no valid excuse for terrorising society. I know my words are strong but I get very frustrated when people lack understanding of how victims feel. Honest sentencing at least helps victims get on with life to some extent.

[CULAVE]

cont... for their victims. Many British people are sick of 'criminals getting off the hook' I am one of many who has suffered at the hands of gangs so its an issue ive strong views on. Its frustrates me when people blame 'society' and 'poverty' and never directly condemn the perpetrators. I believe in a fair and honest criminal justice system and we simply don't have that. I do not want a lynch mob mentality but there is a very deep anger in this country at sentencing. Thanks for your message.

[CULAVE]

When people use excuses masquarading as explanations it just influences disproportionate sentencing. A lot of people have difficult backgrounds but they don't all become criminals. Of course the root causes needs to be tackled but that shouldn't mean crime should be tolerated and thats whats happening. Bleeding heart excuses are just insulting to victims.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- Here is an example of what I mean by proportionality; a gang of evil thugs (I do not believe in political correctness and this is exactly what they are) brutally kicked a family man to death. Because they were under 18 at the time they received 12 years each. This sentence is criminal. They should die in prison.

[Liv063]

no, they shoulden't die, they should stay in prison for some time and then not do it again!

We cant just put peaople in jail to die, why not just kill them on the spot? because that is WRONG!

[CULAVE]

Liv063- the problem is right now 'some time' is just not long enough. These people really lack any sort of empathy for human suffering. To release a dangerous individual after only a few years is irresponsible. You need to understand the anger victims feel about this. A life sentence that actually means that guarantees there will be no re-offending. In the UK criminals are released early and go and commit the same crime over again. Soft sentencing for abhorrent crimes is WRONG

[bommmmmmmm]

Good old Dav. All things to all people (just as anyone is in opposition). My gut feeling on the guy is that he is a smug slug.

[danreednetworkfans]

Anyone who thinks its ok for the Police to lock people up for 6 weeks without having to give a reason, like Gordon Brown, loses my vote immediately... as long as Cameron doesn't do the same he can have my vote...

[CULAVE]

danreednetworkfans- I believe everyone should be given a fair trial and the incarceration period should be absolutely minimal but if found unanomously guilty they should serve the proportionate sentence. Our system is not a honest. A 'life sentence' is a lie

[CULAVE]

I have heard criminals have a great time in Sweden- and theyget even softer sentences than the UK- is that true- are the Swedish electorate angry about this?

[Liv063]

well, the life time in Sweden is really short, like 10-20 years. Deathpenalty dosent exist. Some people are angry that they let murderes with mental problems out after 4 months of in therapy at institutes. But i think its a good system though.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- the problem is when someone is given such a disproportionate sentence it is much harder for the victim to get any closure, because they are so angry at the injustice. I know what its like to be terrorised by crime and I have no sympathy for the perpetrators. A system that puts criminals before victims is not a good system. In the UK the system is not honest because the sentence given is rarely literal. Most people in the UK want tougher penalties for those who wish to ruin others lives.

[Liv063]

But is there an right or wrong sentence though? Some people should be cept in prison, but its a working system. I think the "get-out-of-prison-deciders" just should really think properly before letting people out, and about the effects of anyone who was involved.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- when I say 'right' I mean proportionate as to how serious the crime is and the circumstances of the situation. I think a gang that beats an individual to death should be classed as one of the worst crimes. I think a sentence of 12 years for such a crime isn't just rediculous, its morally wrong. I completely agree with what you said on the early release commitee (I don't know the proper definition) My point is the views of victims/victim charities are completely ignored in sentencing.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- do you feel safe in the area you live in? Across the UK and I would imagine places in Sweden too (im thinking of Malmo?) people are literally frightened to leave their homes because teenage gangs rule by fear and intimidation. In Britain there is a lot of support for offenders but relatively little for those who suffer at their hands.

[Liv063]

CULAVE - Well the largest cities in Sweden I wouldent want to go outside at night. Like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala. But I live on the countryside near a smaller town so its pretty peaceful and quiet compared to the bigger cities. The communities in Sweden have big support for young criminals and youths in gangs. But only 1 of 3 leave their old life of crime and drug use behind and moves on.

[CULAVE]

Liv063- 1 in 3- thats intersting. In the UK the re-offending rate is very high. I think that talk of tackling the root causes is important but this shouldn't be used in deciding policy on sentencing. For example just because a gang member has had a tough upbringing doesn't mean their victim should be denied justice which it what happens when sentencing is disproportionate. I think the problem lies more in attitude than poverty. In the UK there are more support groups for criminals than cont...

[CULAVE]

I won't vote tory because despite what he says Dave is soft on crime and that is morally repugnant. Like his sense of humour though.

[CULAVE]

Having watched Nick Herbert's superb performance in Birmingham I want to somewhat retract on my statement on voting Tory. I don't regret writing it because its how I felt at the time and I still think Mr Cameron's statement on 'understanding young people on the street' was worded badly but if I was voting solely on the issue of crime the Tories would definately get my vote. The Lib Dems are institutionally on the side of criminals and Labour is ineffective.

[MrSoprano0125]

HUG A HOODIE?????

Somebody shoot him!!!!!!

[dollfaacee]

If he thinks it cold in Stockholm, he should be in Dalarna. Pretty much colder here.

[Kempley05]

I'm glad to a future Priminister learning lessons from one of the most remarkable countries in the world.

[Shogun2k7]

But Then Again At Least Your Goin To Sweden! Good Move!

Hopefully You've Learnt Sumthing From Them n Mayb Use Sum Of Their Policies In Britain!

[ivangrozny27]

where's the clip of that hoodie 'aiming a gun' at Cameron? The Tories should get the police to round these scumbags up from all the council estates and drop them into the middle of Helmand province, then we'd see how hard they are. Even I'd vote for them then.

[Shogun2k7]

Explain why people from council estates should be dropped into the middle of Helmand province?

[ivangrozny27]

Not ALL people from estates, just the troublemakers and lowlifes

[Shogun2k7]

Hmmm yeah, but they only became that way due to lack of education and broken families or families that just don't care. It is up to the government to protect these people who live in these circumstances and educate them. At the moment the "trouble makers" and "lowlifes" know no better.

[ivangrozny27]

These lowlifes should take a certain degree of self-responsibility. Just cos you come from a broken home is no excuse to behave in an anti-social manner. The govt should provide unemployment benefits and housing only if ppl make an effort to get some training or even just a mcdonalds job. Britain has a booming economy, the only excuse someone one can have for not being employed is if they're physcally disabled or depressed , and these hoods are neither of those.

[Shogun2k7]

Yea, vry tru, but u must target the source of the problem & the govt must not let these young kids who have alot to offer be exposed 2 certain things. Now adays, to young kids alot of the time, its all about getting "repped" and most things to do with crime & being a "gangsta"

The environment in which you grow up in & your upbringing has a significant effect on your future so therefore if a young child is growing up in a "BAD environment" then more often than not they will become "lowlifes"

[masterlethal]

but they are abandoned from a young age so they know no better

[CULAVE]

masterlethal- there is no excuse for terrorising society. Its a FACT that across Europe our penal systems are on the side of the offender.

[CULAVE]

ivangrozny27- im aware you made this comment a year ago but I have to respond. You appear to have the notion; unemployed=criminal/criminal=u­nemployed

Sure, many yobs are unemployed but not everyone who is unemployed is a yob. I am unemployed and I hate gangs etc as much as anyone. Being unemployed is not a crime

[ivangrozny27]

No mate, I certainly am not equating unemployed with criminal, sorry if it sounded that way, just having a pop at the ASBO 'gangs' and their parents (who should take most of the blame) who terrorise communities. I work in finance myself and am now too unemployed, hopefully should only be short term :0)

[CULAVE]

ivangrozny27- thats fine; thanks for your reply. I completely agree with you on gangs. I have had first hand experience of what they are capable of, having been driven out of my home some years ago by yobs. They seem to lack any human empathy and have a mindset of carnivorous animals. I frankly loathe them. I could write a lot about this but iv'e dominated the comments section a lot and don't want to seem arrogant.

Hope things work out for you*

[jrichardson01367]

You're obviously under the belief that everything is up to the government to fix and no one has any blame for anything. Well sometimes it's not about blame; it's just fact. We're absolutely showered with opportunity in this country. Some people are just conditioned to be chavs by their chav parents. The biggest influence on a child is their parents. How are you gonna solve that fact of life, hey?

[Shogun2k7]

The people to blame are the families allowing their children to live in the circumstances they do! BUT the government must try harder to protect these children from their bad role models!

[CULAVE]

Shogun2k7- So you don't believe offenders are responsible for their own actions?

[Shogun2k7]

Of course they are responsible! but I mean look what we've invested in now! i can't remember the figure but it's like 3 mil thats gone into that stupid advert about knife crime. That's just spreading and advertising knives! The more you fill people's heads with rubbish the more likely they are going to become rubbish!

[CULAVE]

Shogun2k7- you make a fair point with the advertising but I was just clarifying your position based on your other comments. I believe there should be much tougher penalties for those who provide the knives in the first place. One MP recently made the good point that in the past there would be fights and maybe bruises, but its the factor of knives that causes the fatalities- often for the most trivial of reasons.

[CULAVE]

Shogun2k7- just out of interest, have you ever been attacked by a gang or forced to leave your home by yobs? Im just interested because peoples opinions are often based on experience.

[Shogun2k7]

I have been attacked by a gang yes, but never forced to leave my home by yobs! You?

[CULAVE]

Shogun2k7- Thankyou for replying. Yes, unfortunately I have experienced both. I have been attacked by a gang in broad daylight in a city centre with friends. They actually held a syringe to me and used threats, although we managed to get away. I have had verbal abuse on more occasions than I care to remember. And when I was 16 I was forced to leave home by yobs. We had been verbally and physically harassed for months and it was becoming a nightmare. In the end, we had to leave for safety. cont..