The community in Rossendale and Darwen is strong, with the glue of fantastic schools, strong churches, youth clubs and community groups binding us together.
Even with our strong society, we have to acknowledge we have large groups of people who do not feel they are part of this. This was evident from the riot in Bacup. People often feel dispossessed, through unemployment, drugs or alcohol and all too frequently a toxic mix of all the above.
The last forty years has seen innumerable social experiments including comprehensive schools, selling council homes and the breakup of what used to be known as the nuclear family.
The results of these experiments are now in, and they are damning. Youths rioting this week are unarguably the Blair/Brown generation. But as much responsibility must rest with the parents.
The solution to the problem of people who perceive they have no stake in our society is not simple, however, we must take the first few simple steps on the road to end this calamity.
As a government we must support the family and let people know mum and dad are still best to teach children right from wrong. We are already doing this by ending the couple penalty in the benefits system. We must go further and recognise marriage through the tax system to help keep families together.
In my constituency, community projects such as The White Horse project in Waterfoot and the boxing club in Lower Darwen are superb examples of places for young people to spend time and out of the grip of gangs.
The government and local authorities must do more to support these community partnerships and those who work in them must be given more recognition for the vital role they play in building our strong society.
In Lancashire we have the finest police force in the country and the response of Chief Constable Steve Finnigan and his officers has been outstanding.
Those who know right from wrong must fear the consequences of their crimes. The government must support the police to take off their kid gloves, ASBOs must be replaced with prosecution and prison for repeat offenders.