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'Put child drinkers in care' call Parents 'ignoring child drinking'
(about 6 hours later)
A senior police officer says children should be taken into care if their parents refuse to take responsibility for their underage drinking. Parents should be forced to take action to stop their children drinking alcohol underage, a police chief has said.
The Chief Constable of Cheshire, Peter Fahy, said: "This should be a child protection issue." Chief Constable of Cheshire Peter Fahy spoke after four teenagers were charged with the murder of Garry Newlove, 47.
Mr Fahy is leading the investigation into the death of Garry Newlove, 47, after youths allegedly attacked him. He said underage drinking was a "child protection issue" and parents must take action to stop it or face "sanctions" from the care system.
Ministers say there are already tough powers to deal with those who fail to curb children's underage drinking. Ministers say there are already tough powers in place to compel them, such as parenting contracts and orders.
Father-of-three Mr Newlove died of his injuries last Sunday in hospital in Warrington. Four teenagers have been charged with murder. Mr Fahy is leading the investigation into Mr Newlove's death. The father-of-three died in hospital in Warrington last Sunday after youths allegedly attacked him.
Public response Last week, Mr Fahy called for the legal drinking age to be raised to 21.
Mr Fahy's comments follow his previous calls to raise the legal drinking age to 21. 'A tragedy'
Mr Fahy said parents must not be allowed to ignore their children's anti-social behaviour.
"There are schemes whereby youth workers and other people offer support to parents who may have a problem with a youngster who's drinking. But we find a lot of parents will not take up that offer," he said.
Society has recently stepped back from laying down too many standards, and telling people how to run their lives, but I think we've seen the consequences of that Chief Constable Peter Fahy
"If people are not willing to take up that offer, then there is some form of sanction which actually makes them come and take up that offer.
"This should be a child protection issue and this should be dealt with as part of care proceedings."
He said the nation had been "touched" by the death of Mr Newlove, close to his home and seemingly protecting property from vandalism.He said the nation had been "touched" by the death of Mr Newlove, close to his home and seemingly protecting property from vandalism.
But he continued: "It is also a tragedy that we have four young people charged with murder.But he continued: "It is also a tragedy that we have four young people charged with murder.
I think a lot of police officers absolutely would be in favour of a time when it's expected that young people are actually at home indoors Chief Constable Peter Fahy
"Young people who are drinking are putting themselves in vulnerable positions both in terms of being the victim of crime or committing crime.""Young people who are drinking are putting themselves in vulnerable positions both in terms of being the victim of crime or committing crime."
Mr Fahy claimed to have been "amazed" by the public response to his remarks about tightening up alcohol laws, which sparked a major debate. Curfews
He suggested that parents who did not take up offers of support to deal with problem children might face sanctions. Mr Fahy added: "On the whole, society has recently stepped back from laying down too many standards, and telling people how to run their lives, and doing things like saying what time should children be home at night. But I think we've seen the consequences of that.
"There are schemes whereby youth workers and other people offer support to parents who may have a problem with a youngster who's drinking. But we find a lot of parents will not take up that offer," he said.
"If people are not willing to take up that offer, then there is some form of sanction which actually makes them come and take up that offer."
Measures 'in place'
He added: "On the whole, society has recently stepped back from laying down too many standards, and telling people how to run their lives, and doing things like saying what time should children be home at night. But I think we've seen the consequences of that.
Mr Fahy wants the legal drinking age to be raised from 18 to 21Mr Fahy wants the legal drinking age to be raised from 18 to 21
"I think a lot of police officers absolutely would be in favour of a time when it's expected that young people are actually at home indoors, and rules like there should be no drinking in public unless in areas where the local authority think is suitable for that." "I think a lot of police officers absolutely would be in favour of a time when it's expected that young people are actually at home indoors."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it agreed with Mr Fahy's comments about the importance of parents taking responsibility for tackling their children's anti-social behaviour. A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said some parents wanted to help their children, but struggled to do so.
But in a statement it added that while most parents were doing a good job looking after their children, there were already measures in place to deal with those who refused to fulfil their responsibilities. "In these situations parents need to be given support and help, for their sake and that of the wider community.
Parenting contracts and orders could be handed out forcing them to get help, it said. "For the tiny proportion of parents who choose to turn a blind eye using parenting contracts and where necessary parenting orders which require parents to get help, can help reinforce their responsibilities as well as improving their children's behaviour."
Trevor Averre-Beeson, a headmaster who has turned around failing schools, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he had never met a parent who "doesn't have high aspirations for their youngsters".
"They will do all they can to support them, but often they find that a difficult thing to do, particularly in the middle class education system," Mr Averre-Beeson added.
Community 'rocked'Community 'rocked'
Meanwhile, friends and neighbours of Mr Newlove held a candlelit vigil on Friday.Meanwhile, friends and neighbours of Mr Newlove held a candlelit vigil on Friday.
Neighbour Leanne Dysart, who organised the event, said his death had "rocked" the Warrington community and "affected everyone in a way no words can describe". Neighbour Leanne Dysart, who organised the event, said his death had "rocked" the community, adding: "Our hearts go out to Garry's family, the loss they must be feeling at this time must be unimaginable."
She added: "Our hearts go out to Garry's family, the loss they must be feeling at this time must be unimaginable." After lighting candles, those gathered held a minute's silence followed by a round of applause for Mr Newlove.
After lighting candles, the community held a minute's silence followed by a round of applause for Mr Newlove. Inspector Derek Lockie, who is in charge of neighbourhood policing in the area, said local officers also felt "the pain and the sense of loss in the community".
Inspector Derek Lockie, who is in charge of neighbourhood policing in the area, said local officers also felt "the pain and the sense of loss in the community" and that they would continue to do their "very best" in the line of duty.
But he added: "The message I'd like to put across is lets not demonise the youngsters in this area - it's been a tragic loss to the community, pain that we'll all feel for months to come."But he added: "The message I'd like to put across is lets not demonise the youngsters in this area - it's been a tragic loss to the community, pain that we'll all feel for months to come."