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| Brown targets 'problem families' | Brown targets 'problem families' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| More than 110,000 "problem families" with disruptive youngsters will be targeted as part of a crackdown on knife crime, Gordon Brown has said. | More than 110,000 "problem families" with disruptive youngsters will be targeted as part of a crackdown on knife crime, Gordon Brown has said. |
| They will get parenting supervision, with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction if they do not respond. | They will get parenting supervision, with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction if they do not respond. |
| He aimed to make it "unacceptable" to carry a knife, with "prevention, enforcement and punishment" the focus. | He aimed to make it "unacceptable" to carry a knife, with "prevention, enforcement and punishment" the focus. |
| The prime minister also urged more councils to impose 90-day teenage curfews "where there is a problem". | The prime minister also urged more councils to impose 90-day teenage curfews "where there is a problem". |
| The comments came as he used his monthly news conference to defend the government's plans for tackling knife crime, which have been derided as "half-baked" by the Liberal Democrats. | The comments came as he used his monthly news conference to defend the government's plans for tackling knife crime, which have been derided as "half-baked" by the Liberal Democrats. |
| Stop and search | Stop and search |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has already announced proposals to use shock tactics against young offenders caught in possession of a knife. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has already announced proposals to use shock tactics against young offenders caught in possession of a knife. |
| Mr Brown said: "What I want to see is anybody who is using a knife goes to prison. Anybody who is carrying a knife is subject to either prison or a strong community payback that forces them to give service to the community. | |
| "These are the types of sentences that young people must know will be applied against them. There is in all cases a presumption to prosecute." | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe shock of a mandatory 5 year prison sentence with no parole should be enough to shock most knife carriers back to sanity.John Smith, EnglandSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe shock of a mandatory 5 year prison sentence with no parole should be enough to shock most knife carriers back to sanity.John Smith, EnglandSend us your comments |
| He said stop and search powers would be increased, with more visible policing and 110,000 "problem" families with "disruptive young people" would be dealt with. | |
| These are children who have either been excluded from school, been in trouble with the law or identified as likely to be in trouble later on, Mr Brown said. | |
| Parents will be put on intensive courses to help them supervise their children. | |
| There will be more "community pay back sentences", where young offenders have to "pay back for doing wrong", with communities choosing penalties such as cleaning streets on a Friday or Saturday night or clearing up graffiti. | |
| 'Boundaries of behaviour' | |
| Mr Brown said he also backed plans for a roll-out of curfews for children by councils trying to tackle anti-social behaviour. | Mr Brown said he also backed plans for a roll-out of curfews for children by councils trying to tackle anti-social behaviour. |
| He admitted: "Too many people, young and old, do not feel safe in the streets, and sometimes even in their homes, as a result of the behaviour of a minority. | He admitted: "Too many people, young and old, do not feel safe in the streets, and sometimes even in their homes, as a result of the behaviour of a minority. |
| "We need to make it absolutely clear to everyone, but especially young people, that in our country there are boundaries of acceptable behaviour, that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife." | "We need to make it absolutely clear to everyone, but especially young people, that in our country there are boundaries of acceptable behaviour, that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife." |
| Ms Smith's proposals for England and Wales will be outlined in more detail when the government publishes its youth crime plan on Tuesday. | Ms Smith's proposals for England and Wales will be outlined in more detail when the government publishes its youth crime plan on Tuesday. |
| They include making young people caught carrying knives go to accident and emergency wards, to see the consequences of stabbings. | They include making young people caught carrying knives go to accident and emergency wards, to see the consequences of stabbings. |
| Consequences | Consequences |
| They will meet victims' families and make prison visits to people convicted of knife offences. | They will meet victims' families and make prison visits to people convicted of knife offences. |
| According to the British Crime Survey (BCS), overall violent crime has decreased by 41% since a peak in 1995. | According to the British Crime Survey (BCS), overall violent crime has decreased by 41% since a peak in 1995. |
| Knives are used in about 8% of violent incidents, according to the BCS, a level that has largely remained the same during the past decade. | Knives are used in about 8% of violent incidents, according to the BCS, a level that has largely remained the same during the past decade. |
| Teenagers give their views on knife crime | Teenagers give their views on knife crime |
| But the BCS figures do not include under-16s, something which Ms Smith recently announced would change. | But the BCS figures do not include under-16s, something which Ms Smith recently announced would change. |
| Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne described Ms Smith's knife crime plans as "half-baked", and said the government had been in denial about the scale of the knife crime problem. | Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne described Ms Smith's knife crime plans as "half-baked", and said the government had been in denial about the scale of the knife crime problem. |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve told the BBC: "I don't think these have really been thought through at all, although they are clearly well intentioned. | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve told the BBC: "I don't think these have really been thought through at all, although they are clearly well intentioned. |
| "If we want to stop knife carrying on the streets, we're going to unfortunately have to be very tough in terms of sentencing and prosecuting people who carry knives." | "If we want to stop knife carrying on the streets, we're going to unfortunately have to be very tough in terms of sentencing and prosecuting people who carry knives." |
| The government's measures, overseen by Mr Hitchcock who is deputy assistant commissioner for Scotland Yard, will focus on a number of areas including London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Essex and the Thames Valley. | The government's measures, overseen by Mr Hitchcock who is deputy assistant commissioner for Scotland Yard, will focus on a number of areas including London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Essex and the Thames Valley. |
| Discipline | Discipline |
| Mr Hitchcock told the Daily Mail a non-military version of national service could include helping vulnerable people and volunteering overseas. | Mr Hitchcock told the Daily Mail a non-military version of national service could include helping vulnerable people and volunteering overseas. |
| He said most young people were not "beyond the pale" but had been "let down" and it was now time to give them the "hope they deserve". | He said most young people were not "beyond the pale" but had been "let down" and it was now time to give them the "hope they deserve". |
| Mr Hitchcock added: "It would give them a sense of responsibility and achievement - and some discipline. | Mr Hitchcock added: "It would give them a sense of responsibility and achievement - and some discipline. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| "It should not be seen as a punishment, or a pressurised duty like conscription, but as an opportunity to go forward into a successful adulthood." | "It should not be seen as a punishment, or a pressurised duty like conscription, but as an opportunity to go forward into a successful adulthood." |
| Mr Hitchcock said there was a need for a comprehensive plan which gave support and parenting skills to young children and their parents. | Mr Hitchcock said there was a need for a comprehensive plan which gave support and parenting skills to young children and their parents. |
| "This kind of plan is not cheap and easy. Changes in government often mean changes in plans, so it needs cross-party support for a programme which may take 15 to 20 years to achieve its full effect." | "This kind of plan is not cheap and easy. Changes in government often mean changes in plans, so it needs cross-party support for a programme which may take 15 to 20 years to achieve its full effect." |
| In an interview with the Times, Mr Hitchcock said he was concerned that the issue of knife crime was "being used politically". | In an interview with the Times, Mr Hitchcock said he was concerned that the issue of knife crime was "being used politically". |
| He said: "This is a time for the parties to stop using it as a political argument and to start working together. | He said: "This is a time for the parties to stop using it as a political argument and to start working together. |
| "I'm sure there are good ideas in government and good ideas in the opposition, and drawing these ideas together would be better than fighting over the issue. | "I'm sure there are good ideas in government and good ideas in the opposition, and drawing these ideas together would be better than fighting over the issue. |
| "We all know that policing alone isn't going to solve this." | "We all know that policing alone isn't going to solve this." |