Think [the box] ing discussion

"Happy slap" accomplice sentenced

"A 15-year-old girl who filmed a man being beaten to death in a so-called "happy slapping" attack in West Yorkshire has been detained."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/br...

What are your thoughts on the problems and the sentencing here?

Clearly the brutal beating of the victim is horrific and utterly condemned, what i would like to discuss is what should be done about it.

There has been a rise in brutal beatings, even, and perhaps especially, by children and young people and of these being videoed on their mobile phones or video recorders.

I wonder if the same number of beatings occurred before and we simply didnt hear about them, or if indeed the recent push for almost all kids to want and have mobile phones has contributed to this sort of violence?

Kids can often sucumb to peer pressure. Often wish to show off, or show they are "man enough". I do wonder if the urge to get on camera to brag about it, actually makes these beatings more common and perhaps more violent?

If so, what sort of solutions are there?
In this case, a strong punishment (2 years) for the person filming, is being rolled out as a warning to others. (the actual kids who killed the man got 6 and 7 years respectively)

Given the state of prison populations, at an all time high (in the US and the UK) and the fact that sentence length does not significantly prevent crimes happening, i dont know that this is a great option.

I want to talk further about this but i have to dash fer now!