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/6961699.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Public can stop gangs - Cameron | Public can stop gangs - Cameron |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The public must not rely on the government to prevent gang culture, but take more responsibility itself, David Cameron has said. | The public must not rely on the government to prevent gang culture, but take more responsibility itself, David Cameron has said. |
| The Tory leader also praised the bravery of the parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead. | The Tory leader also praised the bravery of the parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead. |
| He added: "It's not just what we expect from government but what we expect from ourselves and society that can stop this from happening." | He added: "It's not just what we expect from government but what we expect from ourselves and society that can stop this from happening." |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it was vital that people felt safe. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it was vital that people felt safe. |
| 'Social covenant' | 'Social covenant' |
| Speaking during a visit to Oxfordshire, Mr Cameron praised the young men and women fighting in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. | Speaking during a visit to Oxfordshire, Mr Cameron praised the young men and women fighting in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| He talked about the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - and suggested the idea of a "social covenant" to ensure civilians look out more for each other. | He talked about the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - and suggested the idea of a "social covenant" to ensure civilians look out more for each other. |
| It must not be allowed to become just another testimony of despair that shocks a nation one night and is then forgotten David Cameron | It must not be allowed to become just another testimony of despair that shocks a nation one night and is then forgotten David Cameron |
| This should focus on parenting, schools and communities, Mr Cameron said. | This should focus on parenting, schools and communities, Mr Cameron said. |
| He called for shops to stop selling alcohol to under-18s and for the media, music companies and computer game manufacturers to show "true social responsibility". | He called for shops to stop selling alcohol to under-18s and for the media, music companies and computer game manufacturers to show "true social responsibility". |
| Mr Cameron said: "Just as the Military Covenant sets out what we - society - must do for our military, so today we should consider our obligations in tackling crime and building a stronger society. | Mr Cameron said: "Just as the Military Covenant sets out what we - society - must do for our military, so today we should consider our obligations in tackling crime and building a stronger society. |
| "We need a social covenant. I'm not talking about a new set of words to express our national values. I'm talking about something more powerful than words. | "We need a social covenant. I'm not talking about a new set of words to express our national values. I'm talking about something more powerful than words. |
| "A national recognition that it is not just up to the government to take responsibility for the state of our nation, it is up to all of us. | "A national recognition that it is not just up to the government to take responsibility for the state of our nation, it is up to all of us. |
| "To me this is what social responsibility is all about." | "To me this is what social responsibility is all about." |
| Political leaders have united in condemnation of the murder of Rhys Jones in Croxteth, Liverpool, on Wednesday. | |
| In his speech, Mr Cameron said: "It must not be allowed to become just another testimony of despair that shocks a nation one night and is then forgotten." | In his speech, Mr Cameron said: "It must not be allowed to become just another testimony of despair that shocks a nation one night and is then forgotten." |
| He added: "I don't know who killed Rhys Jones. But I do know this: no child in this country should be riding around on a BMX bike with a gun shooting other children." | He added: "I don't know who killed Rhys Jones. But I do know this: no child in this country should be riding around on a BMX bike with a gun shooting other children." |
| 'Must be caught' | 'Must be caught' |
| Earlier, Ms Smith said she had asked the Serious Organised Crime Agency how the government could stop guns coming into the community. | Earlier, Ms Smith said she had asked the Serious Organised Crime Agency how the government could stop guns coming into the community. |
| She told GMTV: "I'm absolutely concerned we stop this thing from happening. | She told GMTV: "I'm absolutely concerned we stop this thing from happening. |
| "It's important that we don't jump to any conclusions about what the reasons were. The priority has got to be that whoever it was, whatever the reasons, it was wrong and they have got to be caught." | |
| She went on: "I can completely understand why looking at something like that any parent, anybody in fact, would feel worried for their children. | She went on: "I can completely understand why looking at something like that any parent, anybody in fact, would feel worried for their children. |
| "It is about helping people to feel they can be safe, that they do feel safe, their kids do feel protected, they can go out, they can get on with their lives." | "It is about helping people to feel they can be safe, that they do feel safe, their kids do feel protected, they can go out, they can get on with their lives." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised "tougher enforcement" of the law in areas with a gang violence problem. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised "tougher enforcement" of the law in areas with a gang violence problem. |
| He said he wanted to get more police on the streets and to "crack down" on illegal sales of alcohol to under-18s. | He said he wanted to get more police on the streets and to "crack down" on illegal sales of alcohol to under-18s. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has warned that there will be "no simple solution" to deal with gang culture and knife and gun violence. | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has warned that there will be "no simple solution" to deal with gang culture and knife and gun violence. |
| Former home secretary David Blunkett said more needed to be done to guarantee the protection of witnesses. | Former home secretary David Blunkett said more needed to be done to guarantee the protection of witnesses. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In some of these communities, particularly where there are gangs, there will be youngsters who know who did it. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In some of these communities, particularly where there are gangs, there will be youngsters who know who did it. |
| "There will be parents whose youngsters look frightened and worried. | "There will be parents whose youngsters look frightened and worried. |
| "If only we could get them to share their knowledge and be protected in circumstances where they know that their fellow teenagers are carrying guns then we might get them to be able to collaborate and come forward." | "If only we could get them to share their knowledge and be protected in circumstances where they know that their fellow teenagers are carrying guns then we might get them to be able to collaborate and come forward." |