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Smith plan to 'nip crime in bud' Brown pledges crackdown on gangs
(about 2 hours later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has unveiled plans to combat low-level anti-social behaviour before it turns into more serious crime. Gordon Brown has promised "intensive" action to tackle gang violence involving guns and knives.
The number of acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) would be increased to up to four times the 25,000 currently in place, she said. The prime minister promised to "crack down" on illegal sales of alcohol to under-18s and to get more police on to the streets.
Ms Smith told BBC News the move would "nip in the bud" the disorder "which blights people's lives in communities". The pledge follows the arrest of two teenagers on suspicion of the murder of an 11-year-old in Liverpool.
Mr Brown called the killing of Rhys Jones a "heinous crime" which had "shocked the country".
He added that the "first responsibility is to track down those who are responsible".
Mr Brown told the BBC that most young people were "law-abiding" but added: "Where there's a need for early intervention, we will work very intensively with those families so that young people are deterred from going into gangs and guns and knife crime."
'Nip in the bud'
The prime minister held a Downing Street meeting with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to discuss how to tackle gang violence.
Ms Smith said number of acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) would be increased to up to four times the 25,000 currently in place.
This would help "nip in the bud" the disorder "which blights people's lives in communities", she added.
ABCs are pledges made by individuals to the police to stop misbehaving.ABCs are pledges made by individuals to the police to stop misbehaving.
Ms Smith's pledge comes after two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of the murder of an 11-year-old in Liverpool.
Ms Smith is meeting the prime minister at Downing Street to discuss youth crime, although she insisted the meeting was planned before the Liverpool shooting.
Drug misuse
The government has issued guidance to police and local authorities on how to use ABCs effectively.The government has issued guidance to police and local authorities on how to use ABCs effectively.
And Ms Smith said she would be encouraging the authorities to make more use of them. Ms Smith said she would be encouraging the authorities to make more use of them.
ABCs are written, voluntary agreements between a person involved in anti-social behaviour and their local authority, Youth Inclusion Support Panel, landlord or the police.ABCs are written, voluntary agreements between a person involved in anti-social behaviour and their local authority, Youth Inclusion Support Panel, landlord or the police.
I'd like to see judges and magistrates tell a 15-year-old boy convicted of buying alcohol or causing a disturbance, that the next time he appears in court he'll have his driving licence delayed David Cameron Conservative leader HAVE YOUR SAY Bring back some consequences for anti social behaviour Colin Smith, Glasgow class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7148&edition=1">Send us your comments
They last for six months and involve an acknowledgment from the individual that their behaviour is having a negative impact on a community and an agreement to stop the behaviour.They last for six months and involve an acknowledgment from the individual that their behaviour is having a negative impact on a community and an agreement to stop the behaviour.
They can also involve pledges to complete positive activities such as attending school or drug misuse support groups.They can also involve pledges to complete positive activities such as attending school or drug misuse support groups.
Chief Constable Mike Goodwin, who is the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead member on anti-social behaviour, said ABCs had proved effective. Mike Goodwin, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead member on anti-social behaviour, said ABCs had proved effective.
He said: "Police, working together with local authority and youth justice partners have found that, in many cases where ABCs have been issued, offending will stop without recourse to legal remedies.He said: "Police, working together with local authority and youth justice partners have found that, in many cases where ABCs have been issued, offending will stop without recourse to legal remedies.
"This is great news for local people whose lives are blighted by anti-social or inconsiderate behaviour.""This is great news for local people whose lives are blighted by anti-social or inconsiderate behaviour."
The home secretary said the government was also investigating the link between cut-price alcohol and anti-social behaviour. Ms Smith said the government was also investigating the link between cut-price alcohol and anti-social behaviour.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have already started work with the Department of Health, looking at what the impact is of pricing and the way drink is promoted."She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have already started work with the Department of Health, looking at what the impact is of pricing and the way drink is promoted."
The home secretary added: "There are two issues here. One: We do need to know whether or not price and promotion is impacting on alcohol misuse.The home secretary added: "There are two issues here. One: We do need to know whether or not price and promotion is impacting on alcohol misuse.
"Two: We need to stop young people from getting hold of drink."Two: We need to stop young people from getting hold of drink.
"We have had some success already in tackling those, frankly dodgy, off-licences selling kids drink.""We have had some success already in tackling those, frankly dodgy, off-licences selling kids drink."
Tory plansTory plans
On Wednesday, Conservative leader David Cameron unveiled his strategy for combating anti-social behaviour.On Wednesday, Conservative leader David Cameron unveiled his strategy for combating anti-social behaviour.
Mr Cameron called for a "three-dimensional approach" focusing on strengthening families, freeing police from red tape and giving the courts more powers.Mr Cameron called for a "three-dimensional approach" focusing on strengthening families, freeing police from red tape and giving the courts more powers.
He also suggested young offenders could be barred from obtaining or holding a driving licence.He also suggested young offenders could be barred from obtaining or holding a driving licence.
"I'd like to see judges and magistrates tell a 15-year-old boy convicted of buying alcohol or causing a disturbance, that the next time he appears in court he'll have his driving licence delayed," said the Tory leader. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called for a "change of atmosphere" in communities with gang violence, but said there was "no simple solution".
"And then I'd like that boy to tell his friends what the judge said." There was a feeling of "alienation" among some young people, he added.