I absolutely feel for the most vulnerable people and for those you support in your charity, fransknorge, but what I don't understand is: what's the alternative?

I went to a dinner yesterday evening at a friend's house. There was a doctor, and my friend's wife who is a school teacher in a comprehensive (I think, 10+ years in this country and I still don't understand schools). The doctor was arguing for a return to lockdowns and to isolate children, remote learning and so on. After she made her point my friend's wife pointed out that of the 30 kids in her class half are from ethnic minorities, live in council homes or are in conditions of poverty (the catchment area covers the Grenfell estate and the roughest parts of Ladbroke Grove). Since last year she's lost a third of those kids and she knows that at least two are now working for the biggest employers in the area, i.e. gangs.

We need to consider these kids. The damage that has been done so far to the younger generation is enormous and it's not just intangible. In London we've had, what, 18 under-18 die since January 1st? I live in Ealing and I've seen a big increase in violence amongst youngsters as schools have been closed and the few remaining youth centres have been shuttered too by the pandemic. Gangs are just sweeping 'em up.