Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine has spoken of a Government opportunity after last week's riots which affected thousands of people across the country.
Writing in the Hampshire Chronicle, he explained that although his constituency was spared the violence, his constituents were not unaffected.
He said: "I was overwhelmed by the response from local people who got in touch as they watched events unfold on television, some worried for friends or family in danger.
"I am crystal clear: this was criminal behaviour that made me very angry indeed. It is totally unacceptable and needs to have serious consequences for those taking part."
Backing the police, he said that there was 'clear support' among his constituents for the police to have tough and robust tools at their disposal, including rubber bullets, water cannon and the suspension of 'unhelpful' social media, such as Blackberry Messenger, where necessary.
He continued: "Longer term, I do think we need to address some elements of our society which are broken and it goes right back to the family and schools in my opinion, where, will too often, respect and responsibility have become strangers, especially to young men.
"Of course, this is a broad statement and there are many areas with a much bigger problem than ours, but there is a major issue in any society when children grow up seemingly not knowing the difference between right and wrong."
Highlighting poor literacy rates, the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe and the welfare system, he added: "The Government has an opportunity and maybe (just, maybe) the events of the past two weeks will give David Cameron a new hearing for his truly radical education, welfare and justice policies, as well as a renewed context for what he so eloquently
described as "Broken Britain" before he entered No. 10.
"He will have my full support for any proposals that are measured, evidence-based and above all, refuse to be part of any knee-jerk response to the popular press."
More information...
You can read Steve's August 2011 column in full (and see the archive) via this link.
Visit the Hampshire Chronicle website at www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk.