An individual is accountable for their personal behaviour. The systemic and social causes of crime must never be used as an excuse for an individual to avoid responsibility or consequences. However, it is society’s responsibility to identify and remove the underlying causes of crime. We should identify and improve poor parenting, anti-social behaviour, dysfunctional families, substance misuse, gang behaviour, bullying and all forms of abuse. Where an individual is developing a poor character, abusive behaviour, bad attitudes, a lack of morality, sadistic or psychopathic tendencies, intervention must come as early as possible in that person’s life to give them the opportunity to change for the better and to reduce the risk of that behaviour affecting other people. Society must give everyone equality of opportunity, access to education, mentoring and support and a helping hand when they make mistakes or fall on hard times. Society must ensure that good behaviour, discipline, work and service to others pays off with a reasonable standard of living. Where there is serious unemployment efforts must be made to ensure that those people have meaningful and constructive ways to live. Where there is endemic racism and other forms of discrimination it must be driven out. Society must have systems of support, education and mentoring to help those who are failing to thrive to turn things round and achieve their potential.