Youngmaf has a valid point.
If anybody (neighbours, the paramedics or the parents of Leah Keane) had attempted to stop the young skallies from behaving as they did, they would have felt the full force of the law as it came crashing down upon them. (And it would have crashed down on them far more quickly and effectively that it should have done on the six-year olds). Even if they were not charged or convicted of anything they would have undoubtedly had their heinous actions recorded on some database somewhere for an indeterminate period. (This was reported to have happened to a 34-year old Southampton mother recently, as she was seen to scold - not physically touch - her own two children for misbehaving in a supermarket).
In the case of the paramedics taking such action would almost certainly have seen them suspended and their career could have been in jeopardy.
The miscreants know this, and that is why they behave in such outrageous ways. They know they cannot be touched. In short, they are fireproof.
This is not the fault of Brown, or his predecessor, but of successive administrations (of all flavours) who have acquiesced to the liberal lobby which has made this country obsessed – almost to the point of mental illness – with “child protection”.
You reap what you sow and the UK is now reaping the rewards of such foolish developments which dictate that children can behave as they will and they cannot be even chastised.
So there is no excuse for their behaviour – but they don’t need one.