Almost three weeks have passed since PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough were killed after a car driven by reckless youths went the wrong way down the A66 in Middlesbrough. The national media has moved on, but Conservative councillor Mieka Smiles warns that the chaos that engulfed the area is a flashing red alert for the rest of the UK.
A warning for every town
Smiles, who represents a leafy suburb in Middlesbrough, says the troubled postcodes, many outside the town itself, could see similar eruptions anywhere. She points to balaclava-clad teens on illegal bikes, shoplifters helping themselves, marijuana wafting through the air, and rubbish dumped by louts as signs of creeping lawlessness.
She has spoken to shop owners who installed panic buttons under their counters and confronted teens riding around her area. She argues that a shocking divide now exists between those who follow the rules and those who do not think they apply.
Stricter consequences and parental responsibility
Calls for stricter consequences, bigger jails, and proper sentences are common, but Smiles says Labour leader Andy Burnham must reverse the reality of offenders being let off early. She goes further, demanding consequences not just for young people who terrorise a neighbourhood, but for their parents too.
If parents receive benefits, they should be stopped. If they live in social housing, there should be a serious threat of losing their home for feral behaviour. Parents would soon want to know where little Johnny is at midnight, rather than turning a blind eye.
Other concerns: dentist visits and council spending
In a separate column, Smiles admits she cannot remember the last time she went to the dentist, possibly three years ago. She found relief in a British Gas poll showing Brits do not get their life in order until age 50, with signs including not having food wrappers in the car (21%), knowing bin day (35%), and booking the dentist before anything hurts (22%).
She also expresses shock at Cardiff Council spending £2 million on translation services over five years, disclosed in response to questions by Conservative Cllr Calum Davies. She argues that if people want to come to the country, they should learn the language.
