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Youth crime plan targets families | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The government has set out its cross-departmental youth crime action plan for England and Wales. | |
It calls for an extension to the targeting of parents and children who cause most anti-social behaviour. | |
There are also proposals for better support for crime victims and help for young offenders to settle back into communities after custody. | |
It comes as the Chief Inspector of Probation warned there were no "simple solutions" to reduce offending. | |
In his annual report, Andrew Bridges expresses scepticism about what he described as "spectacular innovations". | In his annual report, Andrew Bridges expresses scepticism about what he described as "spectacular innovations". |
He says it is "very hard" to identify effective measures. | He says it is "very hard" to identify effective measures. |
'Off the rails' | 'Off the rails' |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said more than 110,000 "problem families" will be targeted as part of government's action plan. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said more than 110,000 "problem families" will be targeted as part of government's action plan. |
As many as 20,000 families could be evicted from their homes if they fail to control their children, Mr Brown said. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the BBC: "We can find new ways of helping to turn around those young people who are going off the rails." | |
Research published last week suggested there had been significant improvements in parenting skills and school attendance among many of the first 90 families to complete the scheme. | Research published last week suggested there had been significant improvements in parenting skills and school attendance among many of the first 90 families to complete the scheme. |
There are boundaries of acceptable behaviour [and] that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife Gordon Brown Media 'hampering' crime debate | There are boundaries of acceptable behaviour [and] that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife Gordon Brown Media 'hampering' crime debate |
There is also to be more investment in non-custodial sentences, involving intensive fostering and community supervision of young offenders. | |
Greater support will be offered with housing, education and work for those leaving prison. | Greater support will be offered with housing, education and work for those leaving prison. |
Mr Brown said at his monthly news conference on Monday: "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. | Mr Brown said at his monthly news conference on Monday: "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 [and] 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 [and] that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife." |
HAVE YOUR SAY Evicting the problem families just moves them from one place to another. I think it would be better to deal with the root causes, not just the surface cracks. Nicola Clubb, BournemouthSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Evicting the problem families just moves them from one place to another. I think it would be better to deal with the root causes, not just the surface cracks. Nicola Clubb, BournemouthSend us your comments |
The strategy was launched as Ms Smith was forced to again deny making a U-turn over plans to make young people who carry knives meet the victims of knife crime. | |
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the government had used "gimmickry" to try to tackle the problem. | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the government had used "gimmickry" to try to tackle the problem. |
Ms Smith denied the plan had ever been to take young people to A&E departments to meet victims as they were being treated. | Ms Smith denied the plan had ever been to take young people to A&E departments to meet victims as they were being treated. |