Gordon Brown today announced that more than 110,000 "problem families"
with disruptive youngsters will be targeted as part of a crackdown on knife
crime.
They will get parenting supervision, with the worst 20,000 families facing
eviction from council or social housing if they do not respond.
He aimed to make it "unacceptable" to carry a knife, with "prevention,
enforcement and punishment" the focus. And there will be tougher
community sentences for offenders, with up to 300 hours of unpaid work, some
of it having to be done on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Prime Minister, under attack over the Government’s response to surging
knife violence, acknowledged that too many people feel unsafe in their own
homes as public concern about knife crime spirals.
And he did not dwell on the plan, highlighted massively over the weekend and
ridiculed in some quarters, to force youngsters to go to hospital accident
wards to see the impact of stabbing. Mr Brown did not retreat from it but
said it was only one small part of measures being drawn up by the
Government.
While the Prime Minister would not endorse the Conservative idea that all
youngsters carrying knives should face a prison sentence, he said there
should be a presumption that offenders would either go to prison or face a
tough “community payback” sentence.
“What we should do is say to them ’There is a presumption to prosecute, you
will be punished’. We are absolutely clear that that punishment will be
severe. That punishment will include going to prison or tough community
payback.”
He said such offenders could face up to 300 hours of unpaid work, with tasks
set by communities, such as cleaning graffiti and tending parks on Friday
and Saturday nights.
Speaking at his regular Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister
insisted that those carrying knives were more likely to be caught and face
punishment now than ever before.
But he admitted: “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, that it is completely unacceptable to carry a knife.”
He went on to say that there were more stop-and-searches being carried out
than ever and a new presumption to prosecute offenders also meant they were
ever more likely to be punished.
He said community sentences were being strengthened to make them “tough,
visible and effective” and that the Government would do more to prevent
youngsters “falling into crime”. Early intervention would be extended to
20,000 families in social or council housing, who would face the threat of
eviction if they failed to respond positively to support.
Mr Brown said crime was down by a third and the number of police on the street
dramatically up - but there was still a “huge amount” to do.
“I accept that as long as young people, or any person, feels unsafe in our
streets and our neighbourhoods the job is not done and a huge amount is
still to be done. And that’s why we are toughening up punishment, toughening
up enforcement and toughening up prevention,” he told reporters.
Asked why he would not simply promise to lock up all those carrying knives, he
said: “When someone is carrying and using a knife there is absolutely no
doubt that they should go to prison. But I notice those people who were
proposing prison simply for there being a knife have drawn back from that
and talk about a presumption of prison and about the different kinds of
knives that would be exempted.
“What I want to see is anybody who is using a knife goes to prison; anybody
who is carrying a knife is subject to either prison or a strong community
payback that forces them to give service to the community. These are the
types of sentences that young people must know will be applied against them.”
Mr Brown criticised advice to magistrates from the Sentencing Guidelines
Council that possession of a knife could be punished with just a fine.
He said: “What the sentencing council has said is not acceptable to me.”
But he said that, in the case of a 14-year-old caught with a knife for the
first time, it might be “inappropriate” to send them to jail or a young
offenders’ institution and tough community work would be appropriate.
The Government would also be focusing on the one in 20 young people
responsible for half of all youth crime, he said.
“These are the families whose children are disrupting the classrooms and
roaming the streets committing crime,” he said, promising increased support
but “tough sanctions” for those who do not respond.
Mr Brown said there were 110,000 families in need of support where children
were at risk of becoming prolific offenders.
Early intervention would take place in about 20,000 families, where, he said,
“it’s clear that the mother or father have lost control of their children
and their whole life is actually in difficulty”.
if you are inclined to stab someone in cold blood you do not deserve my tax dollars and as such should get evicted. you do not deserve to live off the hard working people of this countries tax dollars. nyc famously has an identical policy, its called one strike you are out and it has done WONDERS.
Alex, London, England
Why not put a 'chip' in every person; if it works for identifying dogs why not people?
With scanners in shops, schools etc. linked to CCTV you'd know who was where doing what, and could identify anyone at a crime scene etc.
Not PC enough? How'd you prefer to live; those with nothing to hide?
Terry, Bagneres, France
Why can't problem governments be evicted.....immediately?
judy, Liverpool, England
And how exactally would community work be enforced? How to make sure offenders will turn up on Friday night and tidy up their local green?
And why is it inappropiate to jail a 14 year old caught with a knife for the first time? I thought Gordon wanted to go tough on carrying knives.....
Marek, London,
So what happens to the families if they do not live in Council houses or Social housing??
J Burgess, Melksham, Wilts
Evicting families whose children commit knife crimes is all very well, but certainly where I live a lot of the worst kids DON'T LIVE IN COUNCIL HOMES, THEY LIVE IN PRIVATE HOMES, so what will you do about them McBroon, or are you just going to discriminate against kids who live in Council houses?
Ian P, Hadleigh, UK
And if you don't do the tough Community Service then you may have to stay in your room and we may even forget to send your tray up to you. God Almighty wii someone call time on this Idiotic
Leader and Government
Peter, Vancouver. BC., Canada
Horse and stable door come to mind. Having spent 11 years creating these social problems by encouraging single parent families, rewarding the feckless with benefits(disability?) he now wants to tackle the problem? This will not wash with the pc brigade or his aim of eliminating child poverty.
John, Lincoln,
sounds like a good plan - problem is, is it going to work? parents are definately the biggest cause for crime in the UK- they should be punished too. that could help them deter their kids from crime, and deter the kids too.
lulu, edinburgh,
Facing eviction....! And will Gordon Brown do the paperwork and attend court and the endless appeals and Human Rights arguments to get these evictions
Richard , Greater Manchester,
Err, where exactly do these people go on eviction? Private sector housing? And what is the poor unsuspecting landlord supposed to do with them?
Bix, edinburgh, uk
Dear Mr Brown, where will you send them? Liberal policies and attitude of past have led to the development of unruly society. Time has come for a change in attitude and values.
H Joshi, Warri ngton, UK
yeah yeah yeah- heard it all before and fully expect to hear it all again !
david c, purbeck,
Where will these 20,000 evidcted families go? I imagine they'll be deserving of emergency housing of some type - or even worse go to jail.
I dread to think of the massive cost that again the taxpayer will have to pay.
At the very least enforce depot contraception to try to curtail the problem.
Richard, London, England
So what is the policy then Gordon ? your view which is close to that proposed by the Tories, or Jacqui's 'Labour' view where they get to go gloat in hospitals at people who've they've stabbed or get really terrifying community punishments which over half already don't turn up to ? more Labour chaos
Bryan, Totland Bay, UK
where will they put the families they plan to evict?, no doubt shower them with help while the rest of us pick up the bill.
Brian, Holt, uk
Brilliant, Gordon, just brilliant. Evict them from the area where they're causing trouble, so they go somewhere else and -cause trouble.
Truly only a great mind like yours could have come up with that one.
Sarah, London,
"Hey boy! Put that knife down right now or you're gonna have to do some TOUGH COMMUNITY PAYBACK!" - That's going to send shivers down their spines! Good one Gordie.
T, London,
110,000 families in need of support ? What is Brown's definition of a family, I wonder !! It will be very interesting watching Labour trying to clear up the abject mess which they have created by their anti-family policies !!
patrick flynn, croydon, united kingdom
I like it, thou i wounder will they will end up?
I think a better idea would be to stop automtically giving council houses to pregnant girls, who only get pregnant so they can leave home.
We have to end the cycle of young children becomeing parents them selfs, before they should.
Mr W Jones, Liverpool, England
What good will eviction do other than deprive possibly another dysfunctional family of a roof over their heads, and pass the responsibility of paying for temporary accommodation and then rehousing on to the local authority? Also, why assume all problem families are in rented housing?
Christine Allan, Aberdare,
And where will they be put once evicted ?
Obviously dithering Brown has no idea or thought behind what he says. Just another of his thoughtless notion to appear tough on crime.
Asw, Hong Kong,
Maybe I misunderstand the law - but what's the problem with enforcing the offensive weapons act 1996? This act says that if you are caught with a bladed weapon without good reason you get a penalty varying from a fine to 2 years in prison. Given the current epidemic judges should just impose prison?
John, York,
If knives are outlawed only outlaws will have knives.
thomas, pittsburgh, unitedstates
So you take a disfunctional family and render it homeless - brilliant!
You are the parent of a stabbing victim at death's door and some one opens the screens and asks if this buch of hoodies can come in and gawp.
I'm involved in the criminal justice system, there's no quick fix to this.
Chris, London,
what muppets..evict people? then what? send people to see victims in hospitals? these r the ansers of imbeciles.. knife crime is admittedly a worrying issue but ill considered reaction is as bad as no reaction. A carefullyconsidered intelligent approach is needed fm GB & JS etc not knee jerk idiocy
zugerman, zurich, switzerland
On the TV yesterday, Alf Hitchcock (hasn't he lost weight) compared a mugger who extorts money at knifepoint with a 12 year old who 'just slips a kitchen knife down his sock'.
Have no murders been committed by 12 year olds, remember Jamie Bulger?
A knife is a knife whoever carries it.
GJB, Slough, Berkshire
This is utter rubbish. It is thanks to NuLabs stupid liberal ideas, compounded by the "rights" brigade, that has let to a general moral decline and loss of discipline. When youth were concerned about what their parents and teachers thought there was much less crime. Still so in some countries.
Harry, St Albans,
Children should be shown photos and videos of stabbing victims and the offenders during their citizenship lessons.
Luke, London, UK
@Peter - "knives are just the tools...If the perpetrators had guns they would be shooting their victims,if they didn't have knives they would be kicking their victims to death."
Mate, I can fend anyone off in a fair fight but knife or gun it's no longer fair. Weapons terrify me, cowards carry.
Iain Dobson, edinburgh, uk
And where pray, are these families going to be put. Are they going to be my next door neighbours, or hopefully yours. It's no joke, evict stupid idea, punishment, confiscate their car, give them a long term curfew, there are I am sure others ways to punish them
victor arram, westcliff,
OK, you chuck them out of their council house. Then what? They camp in the park? Not too bad when the night-time temperature is 12 degrees. But what about when it drops to 2 degrees? Get REAL Gordon!
JF, Canterbury, UK
Why not have mandatory,minimum sentences of not less than 2 years, with no probation for knife and gun offences. Sentence to be served on a remote island in wooden huts surrounded with barbed wire. Hard labour breaking rocks and basic facilities. Bad behaviour, Bread & Water and increased sentences.
Ron Sutcliffe, Sheffield, England.
Yeah right! (yawn).
kaylene, London, UK
Yeah, yeah. I remember a party who said there would the highest standard in public life and they would be tough on crime. Is it me?
steve tea, manchester, cheshire
B rown says its inappropriate to send a 14yrs old youth to an institution?? Community service is his solution!! What absolute nonsense,at 14yrs old you need something more harsh than 'community service' it hasnt worked for that well known model who acts like a kid!! REFORM SCHOOL<NO LUXURIES>NO TV>
Russelle Gardiner , Toronto, Canada
And just where are these 20000 worst of the worst going to be dumped once they've been evicted?
I'm getting increasingly tired of Gordon Brown's tough-sounding dog-whistle oratory, merely heralding megamillions to be thrown at flabby initiatives and blancmange-flavoured pseudo-crackdowns.
Gordon Alexander, Frome, UK
the problem here is young people dont view prison as a detterent ; they think its laid back especially young offenders institutions as offenders get many priveliges....why would they NOT want to go there?
Assiya , walsall,
"eviction for the worst 20,000" - this is not solving the problem. it simply moves the family onto another area AND increases instability making the likilhood of re-offending even greater. We live on an island, and if we really want a community we should stop trying to move problems over the fence
ANGUS, Wokingham, UK
Another gimmick from a failed PM. how log have they been in control of the country and not solved this problem.
james, southampton, England
The footage on the news of these boys pulling huge knives out of their waistbands to wave at the cameras was chilling. They have no remorse - they're proud of it. It makes them feel powerful. It also, I must say, made them look more than a little ridiculous. What idiots...
Eleanor, Yorkshire,
What kind of person would use their authority to force parents to do what they are told and then when its all rotten and bad blame the parents... ???
The answer is ... a really bad person
Hugh E Torrance, London, England
And the 110,000 families deemed to be in need of parenting support, stop their benefits (no doubt they are on them) and force them into work.
jcb, darwen,
One has to ask what they're doing in social housing in the first place.
If you cannot afford to raise your own children, through your own earnings, and pay the market rent or mortgage for a roof over your head, do not have children.
It is immoral to expect other earners to pay for your choice.
Laura Roberts, London, UK
If we evict these families where do they go? Will they be homeless or in bedsits? Will they go thru a merry go round of other estates causing similar problems? Do we build special security estates with for "problem families"?
We need a complete thought thru solution not a knee jerk headline!
John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK
Oh thats alright then, if your a fully paid up private home owning ned, then of course you can stay in your own home!
Jack, Glasgow, Scotland
"Idleness is the root of mischief. This maxim has been traced back to Chaucer's 'Tale of Melibee' (c. 1386)
Mrs Maggie Snook, Wareham, Dorset UK
Gordon Brown is taking a 'green approach' to government policies by recycling old policies again &again? Councils have had these powers for years and there is nothing new here just the same old soundbites, like a demented fairground barker trying to bring in the punters to a flea bitten old show!
Stephanie King, larnaca, Cyprus
Why not just be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime?
After all, it was promised a long time ago........
MarkS, Leeds,
Another tough message fromGB. Bet not a single family gets evicted. What's he going to do put them in a B&B?
Robert, Twickenham, England
I think that tougher drinking laws where drunks and trouble makers are detained along with the increase of drinking to 21 years would prevent many crimes. Fine the landlords and barmen Who serve the young!
Micad, Chelsea, London
How sad that the yobs have hurt so many U.K. residents. Where are the advocates for victims' rights? Perhaps it is
time for the police to return to foot patrols in neighbourhoods
instead of relying on paramilitary tactics. Foot patrols promote community trust.
Joe Roberts, Jackson, USA
Violent Britain?
Tell me Mr Brown, how I am to tell my teenager nephew that it's wrong to be violent, when Amy Winehouse has now assaulted 5 people in total, including three people just last week, and hasn't been subject to a single day's punishment at all.
Let alone her Class A and B drug taking.
Tom Franklin, London, UK
Although targeting problem families is vital but we need immediate action on knife crime. What on earth is going on? Yesterday we heard 'A&E solution' and now 'troubled families'.
Marph, London ,
" ... with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction from council or social housing if they do not respond " - so where will these families be put when they are evicted ? ... back on the streets ? or into prison ?? this would make the problem worse
Nick, Warwick,
After these problem families have evicted from their council properties, where will they go? As a Londoner, I'd like to see them sent back, mostly to Africa. I will now probably face arrest for this.
Adrian, London,
Take them to hospitals to show victims of stabbing? Wrong! These sadists will find great pleasure in seeing their victims suffer and it will encourage them to inflict more pain and hurt on foe and friend alike when they see the suffering induced first hand.
Frank Williams, Derby, England
When the chief social worker decides that these welfare animals need to be evicted, where will they go. ? I have an idea. Look up Sherriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. He has the answer to these louts and their drugged out parents. The chances of this happening are Slim to zero, and Slim left town.
Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA TX
Any comment by the police or government about knife (or gun) crime in the UK, which doesn't pinpont the section of our community that is statistically - by massive order of magnitude - more likely, and guilty of committing these crimes more than any other group, is null and void.
Laura Roberts, London, UK
Labout have really 'lost' it! They live in 'another' world. These thugs, who so blatantly laugh in the face of the law, are now being 'actively-encouraged' to laugh in the faces of the victims and their families. Come on Labour-Party, do The Country a favour, Just Go !
Hugh, Buckfastleigh, England
Review the sentencing guidelines.
Not to have a popential custodial sentence for carrying a knife not actually used to cause injury or fear is stupid.
Prevention rather than cure hence the reason for the Prevention of Crimes Act
Mike, Sole Street, Gravesend
Smith's idea of forcing victims to face their aggressors while still in hospital is utterly sick and disgusting!
peterj, malvern, uk
Ah for the old days when we had colonies - we could send these families to Australia.
Ian, Bristol,
Would Mr Brown like to explain,taking into account local councils duty to house the homeless, where those evicted will go.?
He might also explain how his policy stands vis a vie the Human Rights Act?
Peter, Manchester, England
This government is having a laugh. A laugh at our expense! They stopped listening to what the public want a long time ago. I'll never vote Labour again!
Arthur, Newcastle,
Ridiculous! Policy on the hoof! Where does he think these families will go if they are turfed out onto the streets. They will end up in more expensive 'bed & breakfast hotels funded by the taxpayer.
UK PLC is sinking fast & the so-called Captain seems determined to take everyone on board with him.
Steve Marchant, Newton Abbot, Devon
Imagine that you are a stab victim, lying in a hospital bed and a knife carrier visits you in hospital! If that was me, I would be horriedfied to be confronted by a such a person who put me there in the first place. Will hardly aid recovery?
What planet is Jacqui Smith on?
Garry Sukhija, Gants Hill, UK
We had a problem with a family who at the time were in a council house. Who made our hell for 12 years until we moved 300 miles . the council even let them buy their house. the reason we're pick on was my husband is a pensioner. And I'm 23 years younger and married 24 yrs at the time.moved in 06
angela oxbrow, york, uk
Alf & Jacqui in the 50's I am told a certain infamous police officer Shillitoe introduced no tollerance on the streets for the same reasons as you have now -if the yobs want to see the results of violence put them in an army uniform and send them to Kandah in Afghanistan -where my grandfather fought
Dr.Keith Skelton , Colombo, Sri Lanka
What's next? Outlaw forks? Maybe cut off people's hands? Yeah, that's the ticket!
james, Tampa, FL, USA
The last thing a person who has been stabbed and is in hospital wants to do is meet their attacker again. What a sad country England is becoming. Here in South Korea I feel a lot safer on the street than in my home country. I miss England and my family but I don't want to go back. What a shame.
Richard, Seoul, South Korea
Er, where will the evicted families go? Sounds like we'll have whole families with knives on the streets and foraging for food. What a good solution.
Tom, Sutton, UK
National Service?
What a great opportunity for the 'jobworths' in the "unfit for purpose" Probation Service.
The solution is simple, severe sentences for USING a knife.
When I was a kid, lots of children carried sheath knives. They were members of the Boy Scouts.
Iain, Barcelona, Spain
The debate can be simplified as follows
Who has "governed " this country and let society degenerate into the mess that it is now in.
Who has "governed" to create a class of no-hopers whose frustrations are now boiling over when they sence the betrayal they have suffered.
mike, slough, uk
I lived in London 18 years ago. I was an student, just like those 2 poor french. It wasn't heaven, but today it looks like The Bronx in the 80's. If UK wants to lose a great business this is the way to do it. Many won't send our sons to study there. Please fire that woman with the hospitals idea
Fernando, Madrid, Spain
they have been doing this in NYC for years. its called one strike your out and it has done wonders. instead of targeting 20,000 families, ANYONE convicted of knife crime loses their council housing. these parents have to realize these are their kids and if you don't control them you get punished.
Alex, london, england
Really bright, move the problem from one area to another so it affects more people.
Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, UK
The only way of making a difference is to have an effectivbe deterrant. Having to visit victims won't do a damn thing.
The hand-wringing pc brigade have held sway too long. The whole basis of law and order is that the punishment far outweighs any possible benefits of the crime.
W Smith, Manchester,
All very well until "a survey " shows that because the assailant could not meet his aspiration of being a "rapper/ / dj / celeb and own a "stretch limo" with lots of "gals , he was not really to blame".
Especially when another "survey" show that Plumbers, Electricians,Bricklayers etc are "nothings"
Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK
Should a 'victim' of a knife attack be subjected to a bunch of thugs and hoodies being ushered into a ward to gawp and admire their contemporaries’ handiwork whilst he/she is trying to recover? Stop making excuses for these people. They have failed society, not the other way around. Lock them up.
Mark, London, UK
The threat of imposing a fine is ludicrous, as most offenders cannot afford to pay it anyway. Eviction from council houses will only make these people more desperate to steal money so that they can afford to pay for shelter elsewhere. Hard time and rehabilitation is the answer, plain-and-simple.
Douglas Cochrane, Halifax,
This simplistic approach is typical of Labour thinking. Treat them with respect; show them the error of their ways and they'll all turn out to be angels!!
If there were jobs that gave them self-esteem then they would have a chance but Gordon Brown's minimum wage society comes home to roost.
A.Williams, Cradley Heath,
Mr Brown, sorry to be the one to remind you of this, but the prisons are packed to overflowing as it is. You've really got to begin thinking outside the box on this one. Old-fashioned exile for nonviolent offenders, and save real punishment for the ones that deserve it - the antisocial and violent.
Steve, London, UK
Dont just blaim Nu Labour(of course they carry much guilt) but blaim the whole PC rights culture that has been the bedrock of undermining social order in Britain.This is a war.In this war we,the honest law abiding citizens,are losing.Mainly because we vote for spineless,corrupt PC parties.
Norman, Notts,
Gordon......JUST SEND THE OFFENDERS TO PRISON.
Loud enough for you??
Alan Kelly, Manchester, UK
DAC Alf Hitchcock is a political appointee, trying to shore up his own rapidly failing career. The fact is he and his ilk have failed Londoners because they didn't provide effective policing even in the short term, despite having the resources . He and Sir Ian Blair should go.
JF, London, UK
There has always been knife crime - and always will. What we have now is a typical media "feeding frenzy" leading to stupid legislation on the "something must be done" principle. Ten years ago it was guns - after one horrific incident. We got a panic "ban" which only affected the law-abiding.
H L Swinburne, Leeds, UK
OK Brown; so you evict problem families; then what? Do they live in the streets and all carry knives? Do you want the "Private Sector" to rehouse them?
Up to 300 hours Community Service"? What a laugh.
Can you not see that tough means loss of liberty and for a long time.
Labour is soft on crime!
Alan Hargreaves, Holywell, UK
And evicting them is going to solve what exactly?
Nigel, Lincoln,
At least somebody is starting to recognise the impact of irresponsible parenting on youth crime. The next step is that parents should be brought to share the consequences of their children misbehaviour.
joe bordoni, cambridge,
Park tending on weekends? Since most park and open spaces care has been tendered out to private firms, there are no authoritative park keepers anymore, just staff who know every trick to cut corners to do the bare minimum with the shameful, poxy resources given to them. Some punishment.
Anna, London, UK
To just where are the government going to evict them? Another social housing home of course. That will teach them.
They, the government, haven't got a clue what to do with their creations.
Phil, Warrington, England
Is "using a knife" an euphamism for stabbing someone, or what does it mean then?
Why should they wait until a knife has been "used" before locking someone up?
Sion, Bangor, Wales
I've heard this one about evicting problem families before. The problem is no one has the courage to actually make an example of someone and kick them out onto the street.
Luke, London, UK
Buffoonery! Where is the government planning to evict 20,000 'families' to exactly? Gordon probably envisages a UK version of the Gaza strip with vast numbers of socially excluded people living in an segregated open prison somwhere in the British Isles.
simon, London, UK
Oh! So we're going to get 20,000 violent families evicted and on the streets. That'll make me sleep easier in my bed!
Also, I am a 55 year old, white male and I carry a penknife (Swiss Army style) most of the time. Am I now a criminal?
colin, London, UK
What about those that don't live in social housing? Problem families also buy their houses.
Roy, Scunthorpe, UK
Labour's fault. They relaxed drugs laws, relaxed drink laws, relaxed gambling laws, invented pretend police (PCSOs), encouraged single parenthood, denied the problem of violent crime for too long, constantly fought the judiciary, gave in to badly drafted human rights laws. Now getting tough? Never!
Denzil, Haywards Heath,
"They will get parenting supervision, with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction from council or social housing if they do not respond"
What do they hope to achieve with such measures? Do homeless yobs commit less crimes?
Tamm, Frankfurt , Germany
Parenting lessons? Does this Government really think these parents don't know they are bad parents?
These parents don't care where their children are, either because it means not having to bother, or because this sissy state stops parents punishing children who learn they can do what they like.
Gary, Rochester, UK
And just where are the evicted families to be housed? One street's relief is another one's blight.
Perhaps someone should tell Mr Brown that we can't ship them to Australia anymore.
Graham, Bradford, England
Ahh, more confused burble from the Opposition-in-waiting. In every family that is condemned for raising a devil incarnate or two there may be a brother or sister who, against the odds, dares to hope for a better life for themselves, reached through hard work or study. So what becomes of them?
David, Bath,
So, Mr. Brown, have you only just discovered this problem? It's been going on for years so why haven't you had policies in force to STOP it getting to it's present calamitous stage?
As usual, you are wise after the event - on all matters.
A.Wiliams, Cradley Heath,
"...with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction from council or social housing.."
Is this basically admitting that all of the worst ones are in social housing? The system is flawed beyond belief and not fair. Give them less = tax me less! Why shouldn't they pay full rent like the rest of us?
Andy, Hampshire,
The kind of kids who carry knives will laugh at this, and a lot more innocent kids will die as a result. I say bring back the birch and/or hard labour prison sentences. That would stop this knife crime epidemic overnight.
Bob Whitehouse, Benfleet, UK
That's clever thinking.
Evict them from council or social housing - to where ??
Tesco's car park, the local school playground ?
Does anyone know who is running this zoo !!
rogerk, Briouze, France
Misguided, fuzzy, sloppy, weak - next election I will vote for the party that has the backbone to introduce serious law and order measures to combat street crime. Speaking as a lifelong Labour voter I am appalled at how ineffective they are in dealing with a serious issue. Disgraceful behaviour.
Mark, Dubai,
We know now, that we have two tier society? and the knife-crime is a product of 1980s, a home grown comodities?
is it really our media writers are so naive?
May be dear Alf Hitchcock wasen't old enough to remember,
why not hink about treating our young one with respect for change?
Cllr Ken Tiwari (Independent), Oxford , United Kingdom
Make these MPs walk around the streets late at night without their official minders, then we'd soon see a change in the law.
Ian Powell, Hadleigh, UK
Am I the only one to see that it doesn't matter how long the prison sentence is because prison is like a hotel the inmate get what they want when they want. It costs about £20,000 a year to keep one. The way to solve it is if someone is sent to prison they should lose their human rights.Hard labour!
J JOHNSTON, Aberdeenshre, UK
Having evicted these 20,000 problem families from their homes where exactly are they going?
CHARLIE, LONDON, United Kingdom
So the family gets evicted, adding to their tale of woe.
Since we're not likely to be transporting them to Australia, who's going to re-house them exactly?
Or perhaps marauding bands of homeless sociopaths is good?
Knee-jerk politics...
Bill Bird, Wallasey, UK
I am sure that "showing around" knife offernders is about the very last thing on the mind of families of stabbing vicitms.
And it's excactally like that will suddenly make all those offenders turn good kiddies. They do not care about the impacts on other's lives in first place.
Silly idea!!!
Marek, London,
I wonder how it would affect the debate if the statistics on knife crime (perpetrator and Victim) by ethnicity were made available and not buried in 'injuries' etc by sharp instruments.
Not going to happen here. considerations of political correctness will as always take precedence
Ed Gooding, Torbay, UK
Quite right Sarah of Cambridge. Regrettably the Human Rights Act and the pressure from busybodies has shifted the balance the other. Parents must be made to be responsible for their offspring or be given the chance to have them placed in foster homes.
Ian, Bristol,
Does it do any good by jailing parents while the human right issue does not allow parent to be boss of their children while their children still running loose and not facing the consequences? It is easy to blame the immigrants and Labour govt. What is the root cause?
thf, kuala lumpur, Malaysia
The idea of National Service has some merit - but it should not be used as a punishment. If its going to be a realistic option it needs to be for all citizens. Doing National Service should be a badge of honour - not disgrace. Those of us who missed it should also take some part in it.
Billy , Chester, England
"with the worst 20,000 families facing eviction from council or social housing if they do not respond".
That's alot of people with nowhere to live or go. Maybe the politicians with their knee-jerk, harebrained ideas can put them up for the odd night or invite them round for tea and biscuits.
Edwin, Helsingborg, Sweden
Third paragraph down- shouldn't that read: tougher sentences for 'offenders' not 'officers'?
The idea of giving police community service for not effectively sorting the problem out, does hold a certain appeal I suppose.
It would be a bit harsh though!
geoff, moss side, uk
I like Brian Christie's solution - cut off the hand of anyone wounding with a knife. They wouldn't do it again.
And to reduce the prison population, let's bring back capital punishment for murder. As a law-abiding taxpayer, I am fed up of financing criminals' idling for years in prison.
David, Poole,
An interesting approach, though my question to the PM would be as to how the prisons will take on this massive influx of prisoners. Also, why should the tax payer be punished to put a knife carrier in prison? Would the non drug addicted knife carriers be highly likely to succum to heroin in prison?
Alex Penn, London,
I understand that it is very difficult for people in England to even imagine changing such a deep and proud tradition as an unarmed Police Force. However, it seems blindingly obvious to anyone anywhere else in the world, except New Zealand, that the most urgent priority is to arm all the Police.
Chris Wilson, Sydney, Australia
Magistrates should not have one hand tied behind their back by weak sentencing guidelines and Probation Services should have the courage to recommend custody in their reports to Magistrates - they rarely do.
Government needs to provide more prison spaces to protect the public - they haven't.
Matt Taylor, Bolton, UK
Please Gordon Brown, stay out of this issue. You haven't got a clue what to do. Platitude after platitude heaped on hare-brained idea after hare-brained idea leads to what we now have - a calamity for the young of this country. They see through your spurious ideology . They need leadership.
A.Williams, Cradley Heath,
Ok, if you evict the families where are they going to live? Near some other poor unsupecting member of the public, no doubt. Send them to live with the Politicians and Judges who brought us to this state!
Clive Dudley, Plymouth,
Glasgow East has been solid Labour 'forever'. Parts have a life expectancy less than Bangladesh and an atmosphere of total despair.
Do you really expect a party that deals with its own supporters like this will do anything for English children.
All Labour sells these days is Stalinist hate
Stephen, London, UK
What is the point of evicting trouble families?
You evict them and then the local council or housing association gives them another house because they are not allowed to be homeless or because it is profit to the association!
It just moves the problem from one place to another.
Gary, Rochester, UK
"Scared Straight" programs in the US during the 1970s were a total failure. Locking criminals up lowered crime in the 1990s and made the streets safer for everyone. Just look at NYC. When govt stops worrying about criminals and more about decent people this problem will be solved.
Scott, London,
There are far too many laws to stop you punishing children, & as children are not stupid they know this & therefore get a way with as much as they can.
Too long have the lefty/liberals been trying to engineer our society, & look what we have! Lets return to strength & discipline to save the UK.
Pete, St Albans, England
We have to spend more money to help poor areas. Better schools eg. smaller classes engaging youths in different kind of sports and social schooling.
Have police on the beat in these areas around the clock. Children leaving school without a job should be taken care of .
Peter, Southampton, Southampton,
If we are serious about deterring knife crime just cut-off the hand of the guilty, if this fails the first time it is certain to deter them the second time.
Brian Christley, Abergele, UK
Bring back REFORM SCHOOLS.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
Hitchcock said it "effective policing could reduce knife attacks in the short term but would not provide a long-term solution." If the police can provide a short term solution why not a long term one? Oh more money needed I suppose. Effective policing is the key - Blair, get to it.
Matthew, Bucks, UK
It will take a generation to solve!!!!
RUBBISH 5 years for just carrying a knife will soon put a stop to it.
DaveF, Brackley, Northants
Well said Eddie from London, The Labour is not fit to govern! As they have no idear, how dare they let children and teenager, roam around drinking and doing drugs, and tooled up with knifes and gun!!! What is going on lock them, put them in the army setup boot camps and national service. Far to soft
oliver, colchester,
Someone said put them in chain gangs. Couldn't agree more. And instead of a "National Service" for all youngsters make the parents of any miscreant do it and learn how to bring up children properly.
B Redfern, Zdole, Slovenia
Razor slashing in Glasgow was stopped very quickley. I believe the Sheriff who did it gave the first five men he sentenced, 100 years between them. Resulted in razor slashing stopping. We should give them the choice of a long prison sentence or fighting the Taliban.
David, Helsinki, Finland
I said it years ago when serving as a Special Constable people who are going to break the law need to fear the Police as our youth do now in Spain. Simple they are armed, if you do not give them real guns because our Politicians are too frightened, give them ALL Stun guns! MS Smith has no experience
Andy Moore, Solihull, Uk
Nothing is ever going to change in this country until we all realise that it's not the government's job to act as parents to our children. As adults, we have to stop being afraid of children and start showing them who's boss (not them, not government, but parents).
sarah, Cambridge, UK
Stop trying to solve the symptoms instead of healing a sick society. Now Gordon will have a 'stab' at it.
Andy, Liverpool, UK
I think the mamby pamby brigrade should be put on a desert island out of the way never to be seen or heard again.
Meanwhile we could re-introduce capital and corporal punishment and compulsory National Service.
This is the only way to re-gain control.
Stephen Holmes, Withington, UK
These proposals are pathetic. The problem in society today is 'kids' have no respect for their elders, receive no disciplne at home or in school and the police are effectively powerless due to Human Rights legislation and undermanning. Lets have National Service or create Boot camps for these louts.
Derek Wiley, Poole, UK
"visits to knife victims in hospital"
A hospital is for treating the sick and wounded. It is not a zoo.
Irene Bujman, East Kilbride, Scotland
This will solve nothing. The problem is the lack of respect and authority that has been allowed to foster in teenagers and the young, due to societies own failings. When they can get away with anything and do what they want without fear of recriminnation or discipline. Bring back Corporal punishment
Chris Ward, Coventry, United Kingdom
18 years ago, I was a young foreigner student in London. Just like those 2 poor french. It wasn't heaven, but today it looks like The Bronx in the 70's. If UK wants to lose a great business, this is the way to do it. Many will not send our sons there. Please fire that woman with the hospitals idea.
Fernando, Madrid, Spain
If you want to make a quick, serious reduction in youth knife crime, every one sentenced should be sentenced to a term of several months on a chain gang working out in the open, in public, repairing highways. I mean real hard sweat producing work. For those who will not work, bread and water.
henry cowan, linthicum, MD,USA
Your deputy assistant commissioner is called Alf(red) Hitchcock?
MaryJ, San Francisco, USA
It appears that Politicians are unwilling to take the sort action that the British Public requires to deal with thuggery in general and knife crime in particular. Surely there is a case for a Referendum on how to bring this anarchy to a halt. A generation to fix the problem is virtual Life-Theft.
Brooks, C, Jomtien, Thailand
Jacqui Smith's policy of showing knife criminals the consequences of knife crime is actually the simplistic policy here. This kind of naive politically correct approach to crime has caused most of the problems we are now seeing. More of the same will not fix these issues.
John, York,
It is about time we stopped pussy footing around and made the parents responsable for their wayward offsprng. Jail a few parents and see how soon the crime rate diminishes
Eric Long, Ramsgate, Kent
"visits to knife victims in hospital"
This is an outrageous proposal, Jacqui Smith should have to resign immediately, as well as the proposal being flawed on many aspects her attitude towards victims of violence is utterly disgraceful.
Karen, London, UK
Hip Hip Horray! Alf Hitchcock is the man with the intelligence to save the day. National Service should never have been abandoned, they should create Boot Camps aswell for more difficult offenders. Get these kids off the streets and get them disciplined and trained to respect society.
Mike, Brighton, UK
The problem isn't simply knife crime,knives are just the tools.It is violence right across the board.If the perpetrators had guns they would be shooting their victims,if they didn't have knives they would be kicking their victims to death.
It is no use looking to politicians for ideas.
Peter, Manchester, England
Not only is the Labour government in denial, they are responsible to some measure for this wave of knife and gun crime. This is a combination of results form labour policies. The importation of asylum seekers fromt eh world's war zones has brougth with it dangerous criminals. Alcohol, drugs etc are
eddie, London, UK