Friday 22 January 2010

Anti-social behaviour






















Last night's ITN London News had a feature about anti-social behaviour in Newham - a borough which is deeply hostile territory for cyclists and walkers. The anti-social behaviour was by the yoof, who the council was making write letters of apology to people they upset.

There was a clip of the high street, with an agent of the law plodding along. And in the foreground a motorist who had driven beyond the continuous white line and was nudging towards the dotted white line where pedestrians crossed at the lights. Classic driver impatience and harassment of pedestrians. But the kind of anti-social behaviour which is invisible to the media, the police and politicians. Motorists are the most violent, lawless and inconsiderate group in society but remain curiously exempt from categories such as "anti-social behaviour".