Taelgia

This programme presented several modern-day problems, the worst being the alienation of youth living on council estates. The hopeless spiral of skipping school, becoming unemployable, running with gangs then committing heinous crimes was aptly shown.

Another strand was the attempts by minority ethnic citizens to serve in traditionally closed institutions like the police force but being regarded with suspicion by their colleagues and hatred and derision by members of their ethnicity.

This was a world where drugs, guns and illegal gambling were easily available and life is cheap. I left social work in the UK over twenty years ago but things were moving towards the realities of today even then. It's an international problem that exists in virtually every West European country and it's an issue that none seems able to address.

This well made series showed us the why and how. Political leaders need to work on solutions. I'm glad I saw this series and hope it contributes to a discussion on remedies.