November 8, 2012 12:35

Plan B: 'There will be more riots'

Rapper and singer says the government isn't doing enough to tackle gang culture

Photo: PA

Plan B has said there will be more riots unless the government takes action against gang culture.

"I don't think the government is ever going to solve these problems," he told BBC Newsbeat. "We will have more riots, it's going to get worse."

"We have had an issue with youth unemployment in this country for longer than 30 years," he added. "I don't think they have the balls to actually go and find out what's going on."

He continued: "Drugs are cool for kids, violence is cool, these things are exciting. A lot of these kids don't believe in themselves enough. They feel so detached from society they think, 'What's the point going to school, getting a job?'"

Plan B – real name Ben Drew – recently announced that he will donate £1 from every ticket sale from his 2013 arena tour to a "big pot" to be spread to projects via his newly set-up charity, Each One Teach One, which aims to help disadvantaged young people. "I want to give money to the individuals within the community who are doing great things, but are struggling to do them because they've got no financial support," he has said of the project.

Over 3,000 people were arrested following the riots of 2011, after violence spread from Tottenham in north London across the capital to other cities including Birmingham and Manchester.

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