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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Cameron demands 'a lot more love' | Cameron demands 'a lot more love' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Young offenders should be shown "a lot more love" in an effort to encourage good behaviour, Conservative leader David Cameron has said. | Young offenders should be shown "a lot more love" in an effort to encourage good behaviour, Conservative leader David Cameron has said. |
| He called for a more understanding approach as to why youths committed crimes in the first place. | He called for a more understanding approach as to why youths committed crimes in the first place. |
| They must have counselling, education and training, he told the Youth Justice Board's annual convention in Cardiff. | They must have counselling, education and training, he told the Youth Justice Board's annual convention in Cardiff. |
| But Home Office minister Tony McNulty claimed Mr Cameron was using "fluffy bunny language", lacking any substance. | But Home Office minister Tony McNulty claimed Mr Cameron was using "fluffy bunny language", lacking any substance. |
| 'Social dustbins' | 'Social dustbins' |
| The Tory leader suggested that children should receive "tough love" and, in turn, have "high standards" asked of them. | |
| This was not the same as "sentimental, childish love which sees no wrong in anyone", he added. | This was not the same as "sentimental, childish love which sees no wrong in anyone", he added. |
| Handing out anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) to young people or putting them in custody was "reacting" to crime, not "reducing" it, Mr Cameron said, and many institutions had become "social dustbins". | Handing out anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) to young people or putting them in custody was "reacting" to crime, not "reducing" it, Mr Cameron said, and many institutions had become "social dustbins". |
| "A few months ago I gave a speech about youth crime to the Centre for Social Justice. | "A few months ago I gave a speech about youth crime to the Centre for Social Justice. |
| We're making childhood - the time of innocence - end earlier and earlier David Cameron | We're making childhood - the time of innocence - end earlier and earlier David Cameron |
| "I talked about hoodies - and Tony Blair made a joke about it in his party conference speech. | "I talked about hoodies - and Tony Blair made a joke about it in his party conference speech. |
| "With that cheap joke he gave up on one of the best things he ever said: 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'." | "With that cheap joke he gave up on one of the best things he ever said: 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime'." |
| The lives of many young people in inner cities were a "disgrace to all of us", Mr Cameron claimed, and more "rigorous and challenging community punishments" were needed. | The lives of many young people in inner cities were a "disgrace to all of us", Mr Cameron claimed, and more "rigorous and challenging community punishments" were needed. |
| He said crime was influenced by a growing gap between the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. | He said crime was influenced by a growing gap between the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. |
| "We're making childhood - the time of innocence - end earlier and earlier. We advertise products to pre-teens as if they were fully sexualised adults. | "We're making childhood - the time of innocence - end earlier and earlier. We advertise products to pre-teens as if they were fully sexualised adults. |
| "We encourage them to listen to music that glorifies violence. We collude in the natural childish wish to grow up as quickly as possible." | "We encourage them to listen to music that glorifies violence. We collude in the natural childish wish to grow up as quickly as possible." |
| 'Gimmick' | 'Gimmick' |
| However, the responsibilities of adulthood came later and later because there was less social pressure to marry, and for young men to look after their children, he said. | However, the responsibilities of adulthood came later and later because there was less social pressure to marry, and for young men to look after their children, he said. |
| Mr Cameron said there was "little incentive" to save, and that "owning your own home is a distant, if not impossible, prospect". | Mr Cameron said there was "little incentive" to save, and that "owning your own home is a distant, if not impossible, prospect". |
| "For many young people, childhood is over by age 12 - if not before. But adulthood doesn't begin till age 25 - if not later," he added. | "For many young people, childhood is over by age 12 - if not before. But adulthood doesn't begin till age 25 - if not later," he added. |
| But Mr McNulty claimed Mr Cameron had "a gimmick and he's looking for another vehicle to put that gimmick on, which isn't terribly mature". | But Mr McNulty claimed Mr Cameron had "a gimmick and he's looking for another vehicle to put that gimmick on, which isn't terribly mature". |
| "When you look in substance behind the fluffy bunny language there's not much there," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. | "When you look in substance behind the fluffy bunny language there's not much there," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. |
| "He talks about the voluntary sector having a larger role. The voluntary sector has never had a larger role than they have over the last 10 years and are working alongside and in partnership with the state. | "He talks about the voluntary sector having a larger role. The voluntary sector has never had a larger role than they have over the last 10 years and are working alongside and in partnership with the state. |
| "He says he wants a more powerful society and then... he doesn't understand where the state fits in," Mr McNulty added. | "He says he wants a more powerful society and then... he doesn't understand where the state fits in," Mr McNulty added. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called Mr Cameron's comments a "trite, almost Woman's Own way of dealing with" youth crime. |