^
1. Budget cuts - I kid you not.
"Foundation Training
The Metropolitan Police have their own training centre at Hendon. All new recruits complete an 18 week residential course at Hendon prior to being posted to stations across the capital. The Met are currently looking into changing the training programme moving away from the 18 week classroom based system and focusing on a more hands on learning approach." I'll translate - chuck 'em out on the streets quick.
2. Two working parents - no time for their children, iffy television role models, sold off all the sports fields - so no sport, not allowed to chuck disruptive kids out from school, changes to the school and examination system, yada yada yada. .... But then I am a grumpy old man.