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Youth crime plan targets families Youth crime plan targets families
(19 minutes later)
The government has set out its cross-departmental youth crime action plan for England and Wales.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. It calls for more targeting of the 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. There are also proposals for increased 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. The plan says the number of people aged 10 to 17 entering the criminal justice system should be cut by 20% by 2010.
In his annual report, Andrew Bridges expresses scepticism about what he described as "spectacular innovations". 'Tackled head-on'
He says it is "very hard" to identify effective measures.
'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." As many as 20,000 families could be evicted from their homes if they fail to control their children, Mr Brown said.
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. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Youth crime can have a devastating effect on victims and communities and must be tackled head-on.
There are boundaries of acceptable behaviour [and] that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife Gordon Brown Media 'hampering' crime debateThere 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. "Today I want to send the message to perpetrators that their actions are unacceptable.
Greater support will be offered with housing, education and work for those leaving prison. "They must understand the consequences their behaviour has not only on victims and communities but on their families and their futures."
The plan will involved the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
It calls for 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, it adds.
'Don't feel safe'
The plan comes after the chief inspector of probation, Andrew Bridges, warned there were no "simple solutions" to reducing offending and expressed scepticism about "spectacular innovations".
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.
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
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
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.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.