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Last Updated: Friday, 7 September 2007, 02:51 GMT 03:51 UK
Most say UK is in 'moral decline'
Wall with graffiti
32% of people said they would try to stop teenagers spraying graffiti
More than four in five people believe that Britain is in moral decline, a survey has indicated.

The poll, for new BBC One show The Big Questions, found only 9% disagreed that moral standards were falling.

Of 1,000 adults asked, 62% said religion was important in guiding the nation's morals, while 29% disagreed that faith had a role to play.

And people said they were more likely to help a stranger who had collapsed than try to stop anti-social behaviour.

Children fighting

The survey also found:

  • 93% of people would help if someone had collapsed in the street

  • 61% would try to intervene if they saw two children fighting

  • 32% said they would get involved if they saw teenagers spraying graffiti

  • 24% would say something if someone was talking too loudly on a mobile phone while on a bus or train

The survey also compared attitudes between generations.

HAVE YOUR SAY
There is no moral decline. There is just the change in perception of what's moral
Vladimir, London

It found that people aged 16 to 24 were more likely than those in older age groups to agree that religion had a key role to play in guiding the nation's morals.

The survey was conducted by polling company ComRes between 31 August and 2 September.

The Big Questions will be shown on BBC One on Sunday 9 September at 1000 BST


SEE ALSO
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07 Sep 07 |  UK Politics
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