Moral Decline?

An overwhelming number of people think so, according to a new poll on ethical issues.

The BBC survey found that more than eight in 10 people believe that Britain is in moral decline.

But people said they were far more likely to help someone who had collapsed in the street than step in to stop anti-social behaviour.

More than nine in 10 would help if someone collapsed, but less than a third said they would get involved if they saw teenagers spraying graffiti.

Even fewer would intervene if someone was talking loudly on a mobile phone on a bus or train, although nearly two-thirds said they would step in if they saw two children fighting.

But do people in Bournemouth think that moral standards in the country are falling dramatically?

Stephen Gallimore, 28, from Lansdowne said: "I think there's a lot of fighting and a lot of gang violence, but there's also a lot of homelessness and unemployment, which I think contributes to moral decline.

"I also think people should be given a second chance. I know a lot of people with criminal records who can't get a job or career because of that and I think they should be given another chance."

Catherine Jones, 49, from Bournemouth, who works for the marketing company CPM, said: "I do think it's a sinking ship but I believe global warming has a lot to do with it. People think they don't have a future and don't have an incentive to care about other people."

Thomas Morse, 29, a professional musician from Springbourne, said: "I definitely think the country is in moral decline. That can be seen from lack of respect given to property and other people. I have lived in many places up and down the country and I have never come across a place where young people show enough respect to older people. I find it quite appalling."

Andrew Bright, 35, an electrician from Springbourne blamed lack of facilities for younger people for the decline in standards. "There should be more youth clubs and sports facilities for young people to take them off the streets. Everything costs too much. There should also be more discipline from the family."

Simone Green, 67, from central Bournemouth, who moved to live in the UK from France, said things were very different in her home country. "I think it's changed a lot over here. There is a lack of discipline. Here you can see 10-year-olds out on the streets on their own - you wouldn't see that in France."

But Claire Talbot, 20, a shop manager from Exeter said people should lighten up a bit: "We have always had antisocial behaviour in this country, it's just reported a lot more now. People take life a bit too seriously."

Ann Stepson, 70 from Ringwood, believed standards were falling badly. "It's the attitude of people now. People also aren't so caring as they used to be. Another thing is the junk food that parents feed to their children - it's now been proved that this is to blame for some of the behaviour problems."

John Stepson, 72, from Ringwood added: "I do think there is moral decline. I think it's the parents who are to blame - there's no discipline anymore. I believe discipline starts in the home but now you see 11-year-old children out at night."

The poll on moral standards was carried out for a new BBC television programme exploring religious and ethical issues.

Nearly two thirds of those questioned also said religion had an important role in guiding the nation's morals.

And surprisingly, younger people aged 16 to 24 were more likely than the older generation to agree that religion had a key role to play.

But almost one in three of all those surveyed disagreed that religion was important in guiding the country's morals.