Menace of the violent girls: Binge-drinking culture fuels surge in attacks by women

 

By James Slack

 

Last updated at 11:20 PM on 30th July 2008

 

 

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The number of violent attacks by women has doubled in just five years in the age of the 'ladette' binge-drinking culture.

 

Last year 87,200 women and girls were arrested for attacks – the equivalent of 240 every day. It is the first time in history that violence has been the most common crime among women and girls, taking over from theft.

The category includes every violent offence from street brawls and assault to grievous bodily harm and murder.

 

Ladette louts: The number of violent attacks by women has doubled in five years

The shocking Government figures showed a rise of 8,300 in the number of women arrested for violence compared to 2005- 2006 – an increase of 11 per cent.

 

Critics said there are clear links between the epidemic of loutish behaviour and heavy drinking, which they accused the Government of fuelling through 24-hour licensing.

 

The Ministry of Justice report, released quietly on to the internet yesterday after MPs had left for the summer recess, also includes alarming figures on the scale of violence by children.

 

Youngsters between ten and 17 were arrested for more than 230 violent attacks or muggings every day last year. The number of muggings alone leapt by 22 per cent, compared to the previous year, to 17,900 arrests.

Violence against the person – which includes knife crime – was up by almost four per cent, to 67,000 arrests.

The results will fuel concerns that Britain is in the grip of an epidemic of youth violence.

 

Already this year 21 teenagers have been killed in London alone – most of them in knife attacks.

 

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said: 'These figures show an alarming rise in the number of violent offences committed by women, fuelled by this Government's lax approach to binge-drinking.'

On youth violence, he added: 'Gordon Brown's failed policies have contributed to family breakdown, failing school discipline and mixed messages on drugs and binge-drinking. This has fuelled youth crime.'

 

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Robert Whelan of the Civitas think-tank blamed a breakdown in society's values.

 

He said: 'There are now so many children growing up in broken homes or with disruptive backgrounds that the self restraint taught to previous generations is no longer there. They think when they are angry they can just lash out.'

 

Mr Whelan added: 'These figures reflect multiple failures; the breakdown of the family, the lack of discipline in schools and a criminal justice system that does not send out a clear enough message.

 

'These problems have been ignored or mishandled for so long we have become a more savage society. It is very difficult to see a way out of it now.'

 

The report contained a raft of new statistics on arrests. Overall, the number of people seized for a recorded crime was 1,482,200 – an increase of four per cent.

 

There was a nine per cent leap in arrests for violence while arrests for robbery increased by 5,400, or 15 per cent.

 

Of those arrested, almost a quarter were under 18 and 40 per cent under 21.

 

The figures on violence by women will be most worrying for ministers, adding to a mounting pile of evidence of a spreading 'ladette' culture.

 

Worrying figures: The number of women arrested for being drunk and disorderly has soared

Officials said it was the first time violence had topped the list of categories for which women were arrested.

 

As recently as 2002-2003, there were only 42,200 arrests for violence, against 93,700 for theft.

 

Last year, offences of theft and handling stolen goods by women were down to 80,200.

 

Earlier this year, the Daily Mail revealed that the number of women arrested for being drunk and disorderly had leapt by more than half nationwide – and tenfold in some areas – in five years.

 

Police leaders blamed the licensing reforms, which ushered in late-night and 24-hour drinking in pubs and clubs.

 

The Police Federation said the days when officers could rely on women to be a 'calming influence' on male drinkers were no more.

 

Alcohol Concern said there is no doubt that there were more women binge-drinking, following the example of young men.

 

It added: 'The trouble is that women's bodies cannot handle these large amounts of alcohol'.

 

Binge drinking culture: 24 hour drinking has been blamed for the rise in crimes committed by women

The number of girls entering the youth justice system also shows an alarming rise.

 

Teenage girls were responsible for 15,762 assaults and serious beatings last year, as well as more than 1,000 muggings.

 

They were also responsible for 5,748 incidents of criminal damage and almost 1,000 drugs offences, according to the Youth Justice Board.

 

In just three years there has been a 25 per cent leap in offending by girls of ten to 17.

 

Elaine Arnull, of London's South Bank University, said: 'The bigger picture is that behaviour is changing and there is a link between girls using alcohol and violence.'

 

Other statistics yesterday showed police stopped and searched 962,900 people in 2006-2007, up eight per cent.

 

This included 96,300 searches for offensive weapons – up 24 per cent.

 

The Home Office said last night: 'Serious violent crime fell by 12 per cent last year. These figures show police are taking action against violent offenders whoever they are.'

You're in a rather serious mood tonight :confused:

:stunned:I am quite stunned! Well, yes, there has to be good values taught at home, but also lots of love and hugs and fun and rest periods for young children and babies. Playing together, and learning how to be fair and increase the happiness of one's siblings at an early age makes a lot of sense! It just takes good examples, rules and fair treatment of all, family togetherness, and common sense. Much harder to change things once the problems grow..

But to blame Gordon Brown for this is a little ridiculous. Personal responsibility begins with parents teaching values and togetherness, then with the children themselves, and less so with the availability of 24 hour-a-day liquor stores.. That's just moving the blame to something else. Constructive outlets for energy, and training, education, and work help make for greater stability in general; but even so, when we partied at the University, it was after all the studying and classes were over, and it was just for fun socializing and relaxation! Violence wasn't in our hearts and minds - so something else is amiss..

Here, the emphasis put on income, and wealth as a measure of status has grown; having a competitive environment where displaying peacock feathers are more important than sharing and caring is definitely not a good message for anyone, as it preens the super-ego at the expense of shared values and compassion for one-another. So, when Daffy Duck is in charge, look out!;)

I was talking with a maintenance man at the rest home the other day, and he remarked that greed has taken over in this country. Globally, it's often the same today, as everything gets more and more connected. So, a value system gone super-selfish is not the kind of examples to set for future generations.. There has to be some balance between self-absorbed desires and competition, and selfless togetherness and learning to share discovery, accomplishment, and compassion for other fellow human beings. I've seen a few of the babies and young children coming from these homes, and yes, they're only getting attention when they're aggressive, and there's a lot of neglect going on. Plus, the parents are setting examples that are definitely not good. Some of it here is from income inequities, as when parents loose the ability to cope financially and loose their self-esteem and confidence, then they often revert to some bad behaviors, and that travels down to the kids..

So, the solution is to teach how to be better parents, and how to get along better, improve social equity so nihilism is not the chosen path?? Ideas??