A former London policeman has said that youth crime is due to  the “staggering lack of discipline” that young people receive growing up. 

Last year, there were 8,100 child first time entrants in the youth justice system of England and Wales. 

The figures represent a 4% decrease on the previous year and are on the lowest number on record. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, ex Metropolitan Police Detective Peter Bleksley said he does not believe young criminals are punished appropriately, arguing that a return to the old ‘borstal system’ would be preferable., 

“Back in the day, for a number of young men, they did instill a sense of discipline,” he said. 

“They were built largely on sort of military type regimes and they knocked a lot of young men into shape, so to speak, who vowed then not to commit crimes.

“I think the wider issue that I was trying to get at is that really we have a staggering lack of discipline in the UK and I think so much of it starts with parenting.” 

While Mr Bleksley described short-term jail sentences as usually a “complete and utter waste of time”, he said a term of imprisonment can often help people turn their lives around. 

“Longer jail sentences give the prison authorities the ability to work with an offender,” he said. 

“Of course, if you are, say, separated from those that your loved ones for 10, 12, 14 or more years, you have a lot of time to reflect upon your offending, the damage that you may have caused, to learn, to grow and be educated, hopefully, within the prison estate. 

“So, I'm a huge fan.”

Traditional borstal system

Mr Bleksley said the modern young offenders’ institutions are filled with “teenage monsters out of control”, where staff are “often terrified to go onto the wings because they themselves live in fear of violence”. 

He said a return to the traditional borstal system, with its emphasis on sport and education would be much better at rehabilitating young criminals. 

“Physical fitness would be part of it,” he said. 

“But many years ago, they would get the opportunity to learn a trade; woodwork, metalwork, painting, decorating, plastering, electricians, carpentry, all that kind of stuff. 

“Which, of course, is extremely helpful.”

“We lack discipline across society as a whole and I'm afraid we're a lot worse off.”

Main image: A person in handcuffs. Picture by: Bernd von Jutrczenka/DPA/PA Images.