My experience with he African community is that they are family orientated, and that their children do well, may gaining degrees. I am shocked at what is happening in Peckham and Southwark. It is time for the numerous black organisatons to help African kids who have gone off the rails. Also the Peckham and Southwark should prosecute parents who abandon their kids, in the expectation that the council will give them a free flat. Similarly children should not be allowed to change primary schools 7 or 8 times, without close monitoring.

Tipu Ramone, London, UK

Two things have contributed to the state of our children. The cult of materialism, and the breakdown of the family. The governmnet is not responsible for the first cause instead of gioving time to their children parents are giving them televisons, usualy in their bedrooms, parents complain of being too busy at work, but only because they want the lifestyle and the gadgets to keep themselves up with the Joneses, children don't need things they need relationships. The second issue is someththing the governmnet can do something abouit consistent governmnet policies have undermined marriage and family values, you are worse off tax wise if you get married, chilcare costs as mush as a good sized mortgage in terms of monthly paymnets, and the governmnet's attempts to prescribe everything from freedomm of thought to religous conscience has emascualted the church from where strong traditional values should come from.

Uche George, London, England

I don't agree that any one party is to blame for gun crime in the UK. I think the government has failed miserably in curbing the institutional bias against black kids in school. But I don't think the government are entirely to blame. Every one has a choice in life.

I was born into African immigrant family, raised in a council estate in Peckham by a working single mother just like a lot of these teenagers - but my mother always taught me that my potential in life is not determined by my genetics or my circumstances. Rather it is the way I react to these things. I'm black , was born into poverty but I worked hard, studied at a top 3 UK university and now have a well-paid career in the City. Had I not from a young age been instilled with a sense of self-worth, aspiration from MY PARENT, had I waited for the SYSTEM to solve all the problems I wouldn't be where I am today.

Sometimes the answer is not take the child out of the ghetto - but to take the ghetto out of the child.

Miss Anybody, London,

Anna

You're right about this problem isn't unique to black areas but the sad fact is Peckham has an especially high crime rate!

the other fact is the victim (Ruth) lived in Peckham too, yet she worked hard and was looking to move onto better things rather than wasting her life in crime. Why don't peaople start to realise it's greed and a lack of discipline that makes people criminals and stop blaming poor housing etc. Some of these council properties are considerably nicer than privately owned properties that honest, decent people slave away to pay mortgages for!

Luke, London, UK

To steven henry, london
You say that the government are stealing our money so that we "normal" people become poorer.
There is nothing "normal" about a man who shoots a lady in the head at a christening. There is nothing normal about a gang luring an unarmed girl to her death because she stood up for a friend who was being verbally abused. Things may not be perfect, but the idea of taxes is that we all contribute to improve things for the future. Yes there is corruption, and no, things don't always work the way they should, but show me a totally corruption-free government. If you are not happy here, there are plenty of other countries to try.
You say also that you "don't blame these kids for carrying a gun", are you then saying that you don't blame Roberto Malasi for these two savage, unprovoked murders? Is that too the fault of the government? Perhaps for providing shelter to immigrants.

G Naylor, paris,

We have kicked religion out of our schools, our government and are kicking it out of our lives. We want a society that is ethical, moral and upholds principles and values, yet where are are those to come from.
As parents, we are so overworked and starved of time that we have sadly left the responsibility of raising our children to equally overworked and underpaid teachers.
"Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he will not depart from it".

Antonia, London, Uk

the comments here make it look like these things happen only in areas with immigrants, but that is absolutely not true. youths of all backgrounds and ethnic minorities are affected; the probem is not immigration - the problem is a country where the parents have given up on their children, because the government calls them cruel if they try to bring up their children properly. In addition, there aren't enough places for young people to be after school, not enough activities.

and for those who are saying to 'close the borders', remember, the white man came to africa first. not the other way round, get your history right.

anna, harlow,

The truth is the government are resposable. they have let the hole system fail. so they can become richer and we the normal persons to become poor. this is the problem. why is there world poverty in this world with so many people dying fom disease and hunger, surley this must tell you something about the government. why can we not live in harmony and love one another as brother and sister. stop this goverment taking over our lives. we get taxed too much to make ends meet. tax on everything im sick of this country and the law which they make up as they go along. i dont blame these kids for carrying a gun, if people in your area are carrying guns to do harm, and we cannot arm ourselves to protect our familes the gun totting gansters will rule the nieghborhoods, the police dont care, the police are killing people too, they have killed many people not just black but white and of other ethnic backgrounds.

steven henry, london,

A deprived area? A great library and sports centre. Wish we had half as good here.

Rambling Sid, Haywards Heath, England

Yet another triumph for multicultural Britain and most evidence of the wonderful `enrichment` it has brought.How about an apology from those who have allowed this to happen and those who have quite happily allowed gettos to grow up in Britain.This,alas,is only the begining.Stand by for more of the same,much more.

Patrick, Nottingham, England

Looks like England is starting to have its immigrate problems like we have here in California...wish you luck...Close your borders, look what is happening to us...a lost of our great culture.

Eddie V Meeks, Costa Mesa, Ca