The sight of young people rioting and looting on the streets of London and now other major cities has shocked people across the county and rallied local communities. Despite some electioneering and commentators who like to say ‘told you so’, this was not a direct response to the public sector cuts, nor was it youth rising up in political protest. It was copycat opportunism by a group of young people suffering those usual generational issues of boredom, desire to challenge authority and too much adrenaline. Except this time, instead of hanging around the shopping centre or local park as we did, they felt they could flout the law and help themselves with no consequences.
The blame game has begun: parents, politicians and the police are all in the firing line, as are BlackBerry, social media as a whole and British society with its ‘rights but no responsibility’ approach to kids, as Hackney MP Diane Abbott so succinctly put it. There will be a lot of hand-wringing over the coming days.
Whatever the conclusions, these scenes raise some fundamental questions around leadership, education and the prospects for the younger generation in the UK. I was not surprised to see home secretary Theresa May immediately responding – she has been the one politician who has been keeping her head down, working hard and acting appropriately since the Government came to office, when all others have been flailing around from one crisis to another. She shows leadership. As for our other politicians…
Those in the HR community have a vested interest in all of this. Many of those taking part had no regard for the consequences of their actions. There was a lack of respect, responsibility and understanding about what the fallout would be. Some even looted their own workplaces. Others will be looking for jobs in a few years’ time (although they will find having a record hinders them here!). Or they may well have given up altogether – seeing no future at all for them. All of these scenarios should worry employers.
This is not victimless crime. My local corner shop shut up on Monday, even though it was in a quiet residential area. It lost an evening’s takings – the most vital time for a business relying on commuters on their way home. Many other businesses have suffered damage and loss of trading. Employees have lost a day’s work and some will not be paid. Given much of the damage was to local independent outlets, it could well be friends and family of the rioters who are out of pocket.
In HR magazine’s case, as a business based near Brixton, our own premises was closed early to enable employees to get home safely. I get annoyed when I hear people saying there is nothing for the young people to do. London alone has more free-to-enter venues than any other capital city. There is a hell of a lot more for kids in the capital to do than I had growing up in a sleepy commuter belt town. This is not an excuse.
These youth are estranged from the community, businesses and society around them. They are full of bravado and may have some legitimate issues around their experiences with authority figures, especially the police. There will be many solutions offered in the coming weeks. Employers and businesses have a role to play in this and I encourage you to get involved in the discussion.
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Siân Harrington, publisher and editor, HR magazine
