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NARRATOR: In March, 1999, Jay Kensettwas stabbed to death 30 yards from his home.He was 16 years old.

KIM KENSETT: I knew he'd gone.I just knew his mother.You know, I heard his last breath.That was the most hardest thing.God gives you a child, if they say there is God,and then the most precious thing's taken away from you.So how're you supposed to get on?A lot of people said yeah, but you've got four other children.But that doesn't count because each child is separate.

KIM KENSETT [continued]: It's like a jigsaw puzzle.Our family's not complete anymore because we'vegot one piece missing.

POLICE OFFICER: The incident happened late one evening,back in March, last year.We were called to the home to come in first thingthat morning.When we arrived, we were quickly briefed on what happened,whereby Jay was murdered.

NARRATOR: Jay died after a scuffle in the Whitehawkestate.

POLICE OFFICER: When we arrived we found something quitesurprising, whereby the people whonormally cause the problems were actually openly grievingon the street.And this was lads, in front of the lasses,actually crying their eyes out because their friend had died.

KIM KENSETT: It was just like a dream.It was like it wasn't real.Any minute now he was going to walk--Jay was such a live person that he'd burst in a door.He wouldn't open a door.The door would fly open.I'm home, and any minute I kept thinking, he'sgoing to walk in that door and he's going to say, it's a joke!

POLICE OFFICER: We worked on the estatein Whitehawk for approximately three, four years now.So most of the children who we sawwe've had quite a good rapport with over the couple of years,including the young lad who actually died,we knew very well.Also, the friends that were with him when he was stabbed,we knew them very well as well.

NARRATOR: Although the police knew Jay,he'd never been in trouble with them.In Brighton, youths are responsible for nearlya quarter of all thefts.The police have begun an operationto identify and split gangs who are causing trouble in the citycenter.

POLICE OFFICER: Operation Motown hasbeen given the authorization by the Tactical CommandGroup for a cross-sector initiativeto alleviate the problems of steaming, predominantlyin the town center.

POLICE OFFICER: (VOICEOVER) Operation Motownwas an operation set up by central sector.The purpose of this was to try and disruptsome of the groups that congregate in the town center.Youth were going into the shops, what they call steaming.They were causing a distraction while another groupwent and stole various items, sometimes quite high values.

POLICE OFFICER: This guy here, weneed to trace him and get his identity.If you haven't seen them already,can you pass that list on, the appendixwith the photographs on it?

POLICE OFFICER: What we're going to dois go downstairs to the security office,just to see if they're seen the local youth recently.Suits.

SHOP OWNER: I would say normally on a regular basis, at leasttwo or three times a week, somethinghappens that we can't control ourselves.Either we've caught somebody, we have to call the police in.They go around the other shops.They're abusive and they're very loud.And of course, with a gang mentality,when there's a lot of them together,they get very, very big and very cocky.

SHOP OWNER [continued]: But get them on their own, they're just little boys.

POLICE OFFICER: We could nick these children seven timesa week.But I guarantee you, they would stillbe offending in the afternoon if you nicked them in the morning.

POLICE OFFICER: The girl at the desksays you probably got the best description of them.

PATRON: She was wearing a white dress.She's got a friend with her who's got a really big Pilotshopping bag.

POLICE OFFICER: Hang on a sec.White dress.Roughly what time did they come in?

POLICE OFFICER: When you're faced with the aggressionthat you get off them as well, because I mean,they will fight.And they will throw things at you and they'll swear at youand spit you and try and bite you or pull a syringe on you.They will do all of that.But the underlying factor is they're still a child.And that is the big crux that we're in,as a police force is dealing with children that present you

POLICE OFFICER [continued]: with adult problems.Is that better?

TEENAGER: Fuck off!

POLICE OFFICER: Oi.

TEENAGER: Just because we want to go out, you know, we're 13.Well, I'm 13.She's 14.

TEENAGER: They don't understand.

TEENAGER: They don't understand.I mean, you know, we can go where we want.

NARRATOR: Nikki and her friend, Rita, are not part of any gang.But they have been in trouble at school and at home.

CHRISTINE: You're out stealing.You're out breaking the law.[LAUGHS]You're out drinking.

NICKI: Once.Once.

CHRISTINE: You steal on a regular basis.you both shoplift.

NICKI: You wouldn't give me the money to go and buysome clothes in that then.

CHRISTINE: Me and Alan, last weekend we both gave you money.You go into town and you shoplift.

NICKI: Yeah, but it's not as easy as that, is it?

CHRISTINE: It is.Why isn't it?

NICKI: Do you know how much things cost these days?Obviously not.

CHRISTINE: That same day I went and it cost maybe 20 quid.You took the money.

NICKI: I felt that if I shopliftedI wouldn't get caught.I just thought--

CHRISTINE: But you will get caught.

NICKI: Yeah, but we didn't think we would.We've never been caught before, have we?

CHRISTINE: The chances are though, Rita,you're going to be in a shop one day.And you're going to think, I might-- yeah,OK, I've been caught once.But I might just get away with it here.

RITA: I've been caught loads of times.Loads of times.

CHRISTINE: So then why--

RITA: But I don't want to do it again.I've got all the stuff that I need.

CHRISTINE: OK, then, what happenswhen you run out of stuff?

NICKI: We'll go and get some more.[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: James has been in trouble with the policeand is under the care of the social services.He's living with his foster mom, Anne.

ANNE: I'm the parent.Well, the department are your parents.And all we're trying to do is to teach you that it can't justbe handed out willy nilly.Because when you come out the care system,when your care hold is lifted and you'reout there on your own, there's going to be nobody--you can't come and see me each week for 10 pound a week.

JAMES: I'm getting experience, though, aren't I?

FATHER: And we're helping you makestepping towards more independent livingin the future.

NARRATOR: In just 12 months, Jameshas lived in 19 different homes.

FATHER: All right?So that's why it's not fair to hassle Anne for money.So that needs to be addressed.And that's going to help you, ultimately.

JAMES: The experience from care is you go into careand you expect to get downhill, uphill, heartbeat, right?Ba-dum.But like, if you was to be put in a place like this,you can't get better than Anne.She's so good.

JAMES [continued]: She's really nice.She has her lines and she always puts her foot outwhen someone goes over the line.She good at teaching kids like me,who've got problems, to sort of like,do what they need to do to get a good life.

ANNE: Do you want to do the breath test?Because I can smell alcohol.

NICKI: If I've been at school, how can I drink alcohol?

CHRISTINE: The point being I don't think you've been there.

NICKI: I don't care what you think.

CHRISTINE: I've got the school that tells me otherwise.

NICKI: Good.

RITA: Woo!

NICKI: The school talks shit.

NICKI: We didn't go up to Michael's today though.

RITA: And we didn't drink no vodka.[PHONE RINGING]

NICKI: Yeah?Something about being at Mike's and drinking this vodka,they were saying.

CHRISTINE: Hello?Hello.Yeah, hello, how are you?

NICKI: What?

CHRISTINE: Nicki, I thought that.And now I know where they've been.

NICKI: What?

CHRISTINE: Because I actually thought that Michael was goingto stay away from the girls.

NICKI: Michael's-- is that's Michael's mom?

CHRISTINE: Eh?

NICKI: Yeah.

RITA: And do you want to speak to my mom?I don't think so.

CHRISTINE: Well, I think so.

NICKI: I'll be in so much fucking trouble.

CHRISTINE: 896-- yeah.[DOOR SLAMS]I don't know what to do now.Can I stick my head in the oven?[LAUGHS]I am concerned about the amount of alcohol she's consuming.

CHRISTINE [continued]: Nothing you can say-- you can try and sit down and talkto Nickola about alcohol and the effectsof alcohol and everything else.And the next night she's out doing the same thing.And it's not going to stop.So until she's-- boot camp.

SPEAKER 1: How long have you been in care?

JAMES: Me?Since six.Got full care at the age of eight.About the last, like, 11 years, isn't it?Roughly 11 years.And like, I've had so many-- I'vebeen different places, difference schools.Like, some kids think I'm-- I don't know why--going to hang about.

JAMES [continued]: Some kids think you're always [INAUDIBLE] things a bit.

ANNE: He did a naughty thing here, for the way you came,didn't you , James?Actually stole a bottle of rum, didn't you?

POLICE OFFICER: I went on a rum streak.

ANNE: You got drunk.

POLICE OFFICER: I used to get drunk every single day.When I was 14, 15, I was drinking cider.I was really heavily drink cider.Even though it tasted vile.Hopefully I'm going to cut down to something like one a day.Or maybe one a week.

POLICE OFFICER [continued]: I don't know.

NICKI: We went out to town, right?And she tried to nick a CD.And she got caught.But they was really nice in there.They didn't, like, be all nasty.And her mom wouldn't go and pick her up.

RITA: She's a bitch.

NICKI: And then we got caught.But then to say, it's nothing to really do with my mom.It is because I'm hanging around with her.But it's nothing.Like, she can't say I'll punish you.Which is what she was saying.We didn't really get in trouble.We get in trouble together because obviously--

RITA: We are together.We didn't get in trouble though.

NICKI: We don't really get in that much trouble.Just when we do-- we don't get in trouble a lot of the time.But when we get in trouble, it's really big trouble.But I don't know.

SPEAKER 1: What sort of things-- I mean, if you're going outnow-- would you be going to do?[LAUGHS]

NICKI: I don't know.Usually it depends.If it was like, before the sun sets tonightwe'd probably go about and drink.But it depends.We don't always drink.

RITA: We do mad stuff.

NICKI: Yeah.

RITA: We do mad stuff.

NICKI: It's like last time we broke windows and that.But we're not that bad.

CHRISTINE: I love her dearly.And I've been told to kick her out, to give her a slap.But I can't do any of those things.The end of the day, she's my daughter.And all I've tried to do is get people to help.And there isn't any.

NICKI: But we get accused for everything.Maybe yes, most of the time it is us.But not all the time.We are good kids, really.When we want to be.[CHATTER]

KIM KENSETT: Kids on the Whitehawk estatecontinue to cause problems for the police,despite the work of Operation Motown.

POLICE OFFICER: They're buying water pistols.Bottles and stones, you tend to--

POLICE OFFICER: Likely that his flame will catch the wind.And his brother's going to [INAUDIBLE].

POLICE OFFICER: Yeah, he's got the lighter.[LAUGHS]The majority of people here want to keepit looking nice, like living here,have got a good sense of community.

TEENAGER: [INAUDIBLE] my life.So I just come here all the time, every day.Nothing else to do for us.

SPEAKER 1: Do you think that Jay's death has got anythingto do with the problems between the kids and the police?[EXHALES]

SPEAKER 2: I think it's just kid speak, really.Yeah, you can't put that down to Jay, can you?

KIM KENSETT: No, we were hoping they would change, wouldn't we?But they quieted them down, didn't they?

SPEAKER 2: They do hang around in groups.

KIM KENSETT: I think this is big, isn't it?An image.And at 16 you want an image.What's more important to you at 16-year-old, if you're a boy?Image.And who's the hardest?

TEENAGER: My friend got stabbed down the road.My friend's parents, they wanted to get us all off the streets.Because there was nothing to keep us off the streets.We was all on the streets every day.And loads of trouble was being caused in that as well.

CHRISTINE: You were supposed to be here at eight o'clocktonight.Oh yes, I did.Oh yes, I did.There's no way--

NARRATOR: Nicki's with her boyfriend, Michael.And she doesn't want to come home.

CHRISTINE: I want you-- right, well then get yourself home.You've--

NICKI (ON PHONE): Well, fuck you.

CHRISTINE: Don't swear at me either, please.

ANNE: Is he still here?

NARRATOR: James's foster mom is also worried.He's so drunk she's had to call the police.

NICKI (ON PHONE): Sometimes you're so silly.Do you know what I mean?

CHRISTINE: No.[NICKI YELLING ON PHONE]

CHRISTINE: Nichola, you either come home nowor I report you miss--[NICKI YELLING ON PHONE]

POLICE OFFICER: Has he caused any damage in here or not?No.

ANNE: No.Nothing worth worrying about.

POLICE OFFICER: Right, it's just his drinking?Yeah, OK.There's no offense.It's just the fact that he's just drinking.He's just pissed.

CHRISTINE: Oh hello, yeah, I'd liketo report my daughter missing.Yesterday morning.She's 14.

ANNE: You know, once he's come back,I know that he's just going to go.

POLICE OFFICER: Right.

ANNE: And he's going to big time.He did last week.He smashed the bedroom out.[CHATTER]

KIM KENSETT: At midnight, Nicki phoned again,and Christine went to collect her.

CHRISTINE: What did you do at schoolthat's so bad that you're not allowed back?

NICKI: Nothing.

CHRISTINE: So what happened that day then?

NICKI: Someone started [INAUDIBLE]so I started to [INAUDIBLE].

CHRISTINE: And what did you do to her?

NICKI: Nothing.

CHRISTINE: Nick, you must've done.Threatening?Anything?

NICKI: I threatened her.But I didn't do nothing else to her.

CHRISTINE: Well, I'm feeling that you want to leave home.And you want to move in with Michael.

NICKI: And who said that?

CHRISTINE: Well, that's what you've been saying.

NICKI: Because I don't want to live with you.

CHRISTINE: Right.Then the next thing is, you're expelled from school.Excluded, rather.It's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it?And you've been drinking.

NICKI: Oh, shut up.

NARRATOR: Jay Kensett's friends meetto remember his birthday at the spot where he was murdered.

TEENAGER: All the others ain't here yet,the main ones that was here that night.

SPEAKER 1: You weren't here?

TEENAGER: No, I wasn't here.

SPEAKER 1: But you still come up?

TEENAGER: Yeah.Give him my respect.

TEENAGER: Hoodlum.Everyone's learnt that.

TEENAGER: It's just a horrible thing.Something like that has got to happen before people realize,you know what I mean?

TEENAGER: When you're from Whitehawkand you're in a big group, they thinkyou're there to mess about, don't they, really?

TEENAGER: Goin back a year ago, we used to sit around uptown,didn't we?

TEENAGER: Yeah.

TEENAGER: On a Friday and a Saturday, a good few of us.But as everyone's getting a bit older,going out and doing their own things on the weekend.It's inevitable.

TEENAGER: Yeah, there's group hanging around everywhere.Cause this is why you just called trouble and everything.But in the day, there's probably another grouplike us sitting over somewhere else,out hanging and getting probably not on anything.

KIM KENSETT: It's Jay's 18th birthday.We just add an extra rose on for every birthday.So it was 18 today and it was 17 last year.It's getting harder to get on the line now, to cope with it.I never told him, hey, hang on a minute,you're quite a great kid.Because you don't, do you?

KIM KENSETT [continued]: We argued, like you do.Why?Why?Why Jay?Why?Now I can't get no answer, can I?But all I want is an answer.

NICKI: I want to be mother and daughter.Because at the moment, we're worst enemies.I hate all the arguing though.Cause I think just cause I don't sit there and cry,that it doesn't hurt me, but it does.

CHRISTINE: Well, really I need to speak to her.Is there somebody else I can speak to?

NARRATOR: For the past seven months,Christine's been trying to get professional help for Nicki.Well, she's not.I don't know who's dealing with me, to be honest with you.Because I've been told that we haven't got a social worker.

NICKI: No, I do-- I want to still go to school.I'm trying to get a job at the moment.I just want a bit of space.I'm not even allowed-- none of my friendsare allowed over here.So I don't see why occasionally I can't stay out.

NICKI [continued]: I'd just like her to-- I have to be in at like, nine o'clock.And she never used to be like that.It used to be like, she used to let me in really late.But she's just getting protective.It's really annoying.

CHRISTINE: We need some sort of help.And I've been told that the situation isn'tbad enough, isn't helping things here really.So I'd like somebody to phone me back as soon as possible.All right?Thank you, bye.[INAUDIBLE] is a bit low, isn't dealing with us.

CHRISTINE [continued]: We've got to speak to a duty social worker.They're all bogged down.So they will try and get somebodyto ring back eventually.So it could be in an hour.It could be next week.But it depends on how they-- just the usual crap.We're not urgent enough for anything else.

SPEAKER 1: Why do you drink?

NICKI: Because it's fun.[LAUGHS]I don't drink all the time.Just quite a lot of the time.

SPEAKER 1: How's it make you feel?

NICKI: Drinking?Drunk.[LAUGHS]Um, I don't know.Happy.Uh, don't have to worry about anything cause I'm drunk.[LAUGHS]

NICKI [continued]: [CHATTER]I know.Are we still [INAUDIBLE] tonight?What did I say?He tried to stab me, Mike.And I'll even show you the marks on my stomach.I don't know!And you told him to give him one for me--

NICKI [continued]: you said, give her one from me.You told him to give me one-- give him one-- give-- oh--

NICKI: You one from him.

NICKI: You one from you.

CHRISTINE: Every day there's a problem.Every day I sit here and I wait for that telephone.Either one day she's going to be either drunkand she's going to end up raped, murdered.Or she's going to be in a police cellbecause she's been caught shoplifting,criminal damage, or whatever else she's decided to do.

CHRISTINE [continued]: There's nothing for them to do.There's nowhere for them to go that's any fun.Unless things change, the kids aren't going to change.And unless people accept the factthat these kids aren't going awayand they're our next generation, unless something's done,we're in for serious trouble.[WOLF WHISTLE]

NICKI: Who you whistling at?[WOLF WHISTLE]

NICKI: Who you whistling at?Rita, don't.[WOLF WHISTLE]

RITA: Harry![LAUGHS]

NICKI: Harry.[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: James hasn't been seen since he wastaken to the police station.And he's failed to turn up for his appointment with the YouthOffending Team.

SPEAKER 3: I'm worried as to who he stayed with us last night.Given what I know of James, he's quite easily late.It could be somebody we know or Anne knows.But it could be a complete stranger.I think he wants to change.But more than that, I think he wants to belong.He wants to know somewhere.

SPEAKER 3 [continued]: And I'm not saying that this is me, because there'sboundaries by my role.But he wants to belong somewhere.He wants to know where's my peer group?Where am I safe?Where can I be and be myself?And I'm not sure if he's found that yet.

JAMES: We have a very beautiful cat here.

NARRATOR: James finally turns up at his foster home a dayafter going missing.

ANNE: You hang around with them.You're getting in trouble all the time.And this is what everybody's concern has alwaysbeen about you, James.It's cause you're vulnerable.And once again, you've been led on.

CHRISTINE: I don't know what to do with you Nicki!I don't know how to keep this family togetherand to make things all right!I don't want to lose either of my kids!

NICKI: You're not going to lose your kids.

CHRISTINE: Yes, I am!

ANNE: Why didn't they [INAUDIBLE] to court till 12?

JAMES: Because I was drunk and-- well, I wasn't that drunk.I was just a little bit drunk and because I was just tiredso I crashed out.And then they were saying I was psychotic or something.And I sort of thought, where the hell havethey got that in their idea?

NICKI: Nothing's ever your fault.That's what I can't get over.OK, yeah, most of the time it's fine and Rita's fault.But you lot can't do anything wrong.

CHRISTINE: What am I doing wrong there?

NICKI: So sure it's only your fucking heirs.

CHRISTINE: Right.So what am I doing wrong?What am I, as a mother, doing wrong?

NICKI: You blame everything on me.

CHRISTINE: And who's doing the things thatare wrong at the moment?Who is breaking the law?Who is drinking alcohol underage?

NICKI: Everything is my fault!Nothing-- you can never [INAUDIBLE] anything--

CHRISTINE: Take responsibility!

NICKI: Why would I take fucking responsibility for everything?If I have to take responsibility for every little thing--

CHRISTINE: Take responsibility for your behavior.

NICKI: Yeah, bullocks.Stick it up your ass.I will take responsibility of what I do, not what you,Sam, Rita, and every-fucking-one else does.Stick it.Why do you think I'm so naughty?Everything's my fault. Yeah, well, if everything's my fault,I might as well just a little bit moron.

SPEAKER 1: Do you think that disciplineis quite important in general?

JAMES: It is.Because it puts kids in line.Tells kids who's boss.All kids should have that.And then they grow up to tell their kids that.Because technically, until you're 18,your parents can tell you what to do.And people might disagree with me, but like,

JAMES [continued]: it's not really worth being a thug or something like that,not going to prison.Because you may regret it when you're older.

CHRISTINE: What do you want to do with the rest of your life?That's what it comes down to.

NICKI: We're going to be table dancers.Seriously.

NARRATOR: The police have been called in to question Nicki.Her mom believes she's been using a stolen credit card.

POLICE OFFICER: If Nicki gets wary,she's not really bothered.

POLICE OFFICER: And how old's Nicki again?

POLICE OFFICER: 14.She gets really nasty.Me and Jim will bring her back to the vanand stay with her in the van.But her room does need to be searched.Can we come in to [INAUDIBLE]?Where is Nicki?How is she, all right?

NICKI: Fine.I'm OK.

POLICE OFFICER: Hello, Nicki.

NICKI: Hello.

KIM KENSETT: Hi, hi.

POLICE OFFICER: Hello, hello.Just come up and show me.Show us your room is.Right, what we're going to do is we're going to take the CD's.And then I'll show you into an interview.And then you can explain all of them to me, yeah?

POLICE OFFICER: All right.

CHRISTINE: All you need to do is try and stay calm.Because if you stay calm--

NICKI: Breathe.

CHRISTINE: Yeah, breathe.That's the right words.

NICKI: Breathe.

POLICE OFFICER: Kelly?Just CD's?Not tapes as well?

POLICE OFFICER: No, just CD's.

POLICE OFFICER: OK, [INAUDIBLE]?

POLICE OFFICER: Yep.

POLICE OFFICER: Damn.

POLICE OFFICER: Nothing?

POLICE OFFICER: Yep.

POLICE OFFICER: Marvelous.Right.Let's go.

POLICE OFFICER: We could search the other roomsthat she's actually said.

NICKI: So how many books do I need to bring?

POLICE OFFICER: Just bring one or a magazine.It's not going to take that long.

CHRISTINE: Leave your [INAUDIBLE] here.

POLICE OFFICER: If you can keep that on for us, please?

CHRISTINE: Oh?

POLICE OFFICER: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Because it is mine.I did buy it for her.

POLICE OFFICER: What one?

CHRISTINE: This one.

POLICE OFFICER: Yeah, OK, that's fine for that one.

CHRISTINE: You can take that one off.

POLICE OFFICER: Do you want to take it off?You can give it back to your mom.

NICKI: What about my Apple one?

CHRISTINE: That's [INAUDIBLE].But [INAUDIBLE].

POLICE OFFICER: You keep all your other stuff on.

NICKI: What, are you going to ring her then?

POLICE OFFICER: Yep, that's fine.

POLICE OFFICER: [INAUDIBLE]?

POLICE OFFICER: No, no, I'm happy with Christine.Right.Shoes.

POLICE OFFICER: OK, we're going to hold her hereso we can question her.I'm going to authorize your detention along those lines,all right?Right, I've got to give you your rights now.But first off, we get yourself introduced.Not handcuffed at all?

POLICE OFFICER: No.

POLICE OFFICER: No ailments that we're aware of.I'll fill that in second.

POLICE OFFICER: Are you OK to take [INAUDIBLE]?

POLICE OFFICER: I personally feelthat if we have to arrest somebody, it means we failed.Parents are to blame, to a certain extent.But I think as a whole, society itselfneeds to take some responsibility of what'shappening.Not particularly just on my tour, but across Britain.The police often get blamed for major problems.And if it's not the police, it's the housing.If it's not the housing, it's social services.

POLICE OFFICER [continued]: But I think what we need to look at is a combinedeffort from all the agencies to say look,this is what the problem is.This is where we need to go.And this is what we need to do to achieve it.Certainly within the home, that is where a lot of the problemsstart.

KIM KENSETT: We've all done it, if we're honest.We've all the drinking bit, haven't we?And we've all done-- everything they're doing,we've done, really.Years ago, wouldn't it?It'd be you'd have a fight and it would be fist-- it's not.It's weapons, isn't it?

POLICE OFFICER: Just a glass of water?

NICKI: Yes.

POLICE OFFICER: Right, in you go then.Won't be a minute.

CHRISTINE: I can't cope with her.I don't know what to do to help.But at the end of the day, at the moment,I just feel that she's frightened.She's young.And she's my daughter.And I've got to be there.

NARRATOR: No further action was taken against Nicki.James has recently been released from Feltham Young OffendersInstitute.[MUSIC PLAYING]