21st August 2011

I found myself filling in an application form the other day.

It asked me to list all the jobs I have ever had.

It wasn't that difficult as I haven't really had that many, but as I wrote them down I found myself thinking about different aspects of each job and how I might have responded professionally to current events, wearing the different hats I have worn over the years.

Essentially I have been a curate in the Church of England (three times), a Vicar, a Canon (twice) a Civil Servant (twice) an Academic (pseudo) and a Charity Director, although the most resonsible job I have ever had was as a fifteen year old tyre fitter, when people drove away their safety, indeed their lives, depended on my having done my job properly.

One job in particular made me reflect on the riots and the big society.

The job involved working in both inner city and outer estate areas of Birmingham. The aim of the job was to introduce and promote community based strategies for drug prevention.

Our research concluded that that if your brother was a drug user then you were much more likely to become one.

As the researcher commented, 'It all depends on who your brother is'.

I was reminded of this conclusion by a piece in my saturday newspaper which commented on a study of 42, 000 Norwegian women. The article reported that it appears 'that teenage pregnancy tends to be contagious in families because girls are influenced by their older sisters'.

It all depends on who your sister is!

Fascinating how these pieces of research again and again reveal the importance of the family in determining behaviour.

Tony Blair has written in the Guardian arguing that the Con-Dem analysis that the moral breakdown in society is at the heart of the lawlessness in August, is wrong, instead Mr Blair argues, society is in fact more moral with both politicians and businesses, as well as individuals putting a more socially responsible approach at the heart of their actions.

Instead he argues, research, that his Government commissioned, demonstrates that some families are more likely to produce individuals who are 'outlaws' and that their outlaw behaviour begins, and can be identified even at the nursery.

It all depends on who your brother or sister  is.

The problem with the article is not the analysis, but that Mr Blair offers no prescription for addressing this problem which has taken root at the heart of our society other than to say that the papers are all on the record.

Society has always had outlaws, indeed some outlaws have won huge popular acclaim and a reputation that has outlived them, Bonnie and Clyde, Sid Vicious, Billy the Kid, we all have our favourite outlaws, mine was Ned Kelly, but individuals who live outside the law are one thing, when our communities are rendered unapproachable, dangerous and un-policeable then there should be a co-ordinated and carefully managed response.

In my job in Birmingham we attempted to empower young people, by encouraging diversionary activities and providing challenges that offered young people legitimate 'highs', as an alternative to experimentation with drugs.

The programme worked to some extent but there were never enough people and never enough money to turn our efforts from an interesting social experiment to an effective strategy.

On one occasion I had attended a meeting in an inner city area, as I drove away I was overtaken by four young men wearing expensive leather jackets driving a convertible BMW.

Mmm, I thought, now there go the true role models for the younger brothers in their families.

Not much chance for a middle class, middle aged civil servant to make an impression.

Or indeed for an old Etonian and his cabinet of millionaires I suspect.