Not too sure about the relation to 'the weakening of the labor laws' these crimes in the most are school kids. Not sure what is meant by the 'destruction of the social safety net' in UK context either really.

Sure these kids are scared so they hunt in packs, but they are living in a celeb hungry time - they want to be someone, and without the education to achieve by legal means they resort to being the biggest/meanest/baddest on the streets.

The uneducated impressing the uneducated. Stab before you get stabbed mentality. They eat gun worshipping movies and music for breakfast, dinner and tea and these are the heroes they look up to.

They don't want to be like their grandparents , working two jobs to support a family. Too slow to satisfy their appetite. They need a quick McFix and unfortunately it comes with bullets.

Roll on the next trend, this one won't die out until it is replaced. Kids need trends, always have and always will. We are witnessing the trend favoured by the throwaway generation at present.

They are a minority and do not represent the vast UK black community.