This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7504646.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Brown targets 'problem families' | Brown targets 'problem families' |
| (about 2 hours 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. |
| The prime minister aimed to make it "unacceptable" to carry a knife | |
| Meanwhile, the Home Office appeared to backtrack on the home secretary's suggestion people caught with knives should visit stab victims in hospital. | |
| The confusion came after Mr Brown 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. | |
| A&E doctors | |
| Ms Smith suggested to Sky News on Sunday the youth crime plan for England and Wales would include making young people caught carrying knives go to accident and emergency (A&E) wards, to see the consequences of stabbings. | |
| She suggested they would meet victims' families and make prison visits to people convicted of knife offences. | |
| The concept that you have been stabbed and you are in hospital and you are going to be visited by knife criminals - they haven't thought it through David CameronConservative leader Hospital visits 'a soft option' | |
| But the Home Office on Monday said Ms Smith never said knife offenders should be taken to accident and emergency units to see stab victims and this did not form part of the department's proposals. | |
| Instead, the spokeswoman said the plan was that offenders would be educated by A&E doctors about the injuries caused by knives and not at busy times. | |
| Victims who wanted to take part in a programme to explain to knife offenders and show them the consequences of their actions would be welcome to do so, she said. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the measure was an example of "jumbled up ideas". | |
| "The concept that you have been stabbed and you are in hospital and you are going to be visited by knife criminals - they haven't thought it through," he said. | |
| 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 | |
| The comments came after Mr Brown insisted that his knife crime crackdown would focus on "prevention, enforcement and punishment". | |
| 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". |
| "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," he said. | |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Community pay back | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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." |
| Consequences | Consequences |
| 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 | 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. " | |