I've been aware for some time that news goes in fashion waves. One minute it's dangerous dogs, then it'll be something else. Teenagers being violent/drunk/on drugs is a hardy perennial and can be trotted out if there's no other Crisis Of The Moment.

Personally I want to know what happened to flick knives. These days the kids seem to be stealing kitchen knives, but that's not very macho, is it? In my youth all the hoo-haa was about the evil gangs roaming the streets with flick knives and bicycle chains beating up little old ladies and having mass fights on Brighton sea front.