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Why therapy, not custody, is the best way to tackle violent crime in the UK
By James Carré-Rice James Carré-Rice was sentenced to a total of more than seven years at Her Majesty’s Pleasure for a string of violent offences. He was described as a menace and considered to be one of the UK’s most dangerous inmates. But against all odds James turned his life around and developed a pioneering rehabilitative system for the New York State Criminal Justice Department that helped divert young offenders from committing more serious crimes. Over 200,000 copies of his...
The London City Gentleman: On why we should be engaging with the arts
When I was at university, which was a growingly long time, it pains me to realise, there was an annual arts vs. sciences debate. It could be a dull and tedious affair, though I do remember one Assistant Dean of Science opening with the tremendous line “I’m not one of those ‘Throw the switches now, Igor’ type of scientists”. But one of the best quips I remember was from a pro-arts speaker, who talked eloquently of the spectrum of subjects...
3 Unlikely Places CCTV is Improving Safety and Standards
The United Kingdom is the most surveilled nation in the world, with London leading the charge when it comes to local authority spend on security cameras. Yet, while there has been backlash against what some see as an urban Orwellian nightmare, the College of Policing has found that the increased number of cameras in public places has led to a “small, but statistically significant” reduction in crime levels. It makes sense for businesses who operate out of large premises, or...
The UK needs to proactively focus on cybersecurity if it wishes to win the war on terror
ISIS’ dream of a Middle Eastern caliphate might be over but history shows that we can never win the war on terror with force alone. As politicians celebrate small victories in Iraq and Syria, experts are warning that the real battle lies in cyberspace – and it has only just begun. Here, the cybersecurity analyst and observer Cosmo Clark explains why bandwidth and Bluetooth, not bullets, are the real weapons in the war on terror. His new book, Blue Eyed...
Marco Pierre White Jr brags online about cocaine, acid and champagne bender – with “every c**t looking at me”
CBB star Marco Pierre White Jr bragged online about a cocaine, acid and champagne bender - despite claiming last year he would give up drugs. The troubled 23-year-old uploaded the video to Snapchat after a big night out at members club Soho House. The heavily tattooed sone of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White posted the video around 4am on Thursday. He brazenly claimed he had taken 'loads of cocaine' and downed £150 a bottle Dom Perignon champagne. But he said...
This is how many “life admin” tasks we carry out each year
The average adult carries out 109 ‘life admin’ tasks every year, research has revealed. Experts found a substantial chunk of our time is now taken up by mundane jobs such as sorting out home or car insurance, checking bank accounts and paying off credit cards. Alarmingly the study found more than half the nation struggle to keep up with household 'paperwork' and often fail to complete everything by the required date. Additionally it emerged the average adult has four important...
The London City Gentleman: On the ghost of Christmas Past
As my regular readers will know – are there any of you out there? – my father died late last year. I wrote about it here briefly, reflecting on his absence. That was in the very early days after his death, and I was still adjusting to the new normal. Now, I have no desire to become a professional grief merchant, or seeker after sympathy; Dad was nearly 70, and had lived a pretty good life. Even back then, though,...
From Grief To Glory: The incredible story of how grieving landowner created one of Europe’s most celebrated gardens
By Tim Woodbridge, author of The Choice. Stourhead in Wiltshire is known internationally for its neoclassical gardens, 18th-Century architecture and breathtaking Great Lake. Until now, historians believed that what we see today was envisaged at the outset by a wealthy English banker as a lasting legacy for his beloved son. But a far darker, more dramatic version of events could be closer to the truth. Here, the author and Stourhead researcher Tim Woodbridge reveals the hidden secrets behind one of...
You can put a price on happiness – and this is how much it is
Happiness is an extra £508 a month say Brits, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 adults revealed money really can buy you happiness - but in contrary to common belief we don't need millions to put a smile on our faces. More than three quarters of those who took part said they would be happier if they had more money to splurge on a holiday abroad, weekends away or day trip with the family. The research also found...