Wednesday 22 August 2007

Cameron targets yob crime 'anarchy'

Cameron targets yob crime 'anarchy'

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/breakingnews/article/1157228522311?packedargs=suffix%3DBreakingNews

David Cameron will hope to put the row over his campaign against NHS closures behind him as he attempts to tackle the "anarchy in the UK" caused by yob culture.


The Tory leader came under fire over his claim that at least 29 district general hospitals face "losing" A&E or maternity units, with several health chiefs saying he had got his facts wrong.

On Wednesday, he will be turning his attention to the problem of youth crime, following a string of incidents in recent weeks including the murder of father-of-three Garry Newlove, 47, who was killed after challenging a gang of yobs outside his Warrington home.

A source close to Mr Cameron said he would attack the Government for failing a generation of children.

"Let us not forget that when Labour came to power the children who are now causing trouble were about five years old," the source said.

Earlier this week, Mr Cameron said supporting families and local communities was the key to tackling the issue.

He said: "We are not going to deal with anarchy in the UK unless we actually strengthen families and communities."

He is expected to call for a stronger role for the voluntary sector and better use of legislation to help deal with the problem.

By turning to law and order, Mr Cameron will hope to regain some of the initiative lost when controversy over the accuracy of his list of at-risk hospitals threatened to derail his attempt to tackle Gordon Brown on a classic "middle ground" issue.

The party was forced to admit a mix-up over one hospital, while senior Tory MP Henry Bellingham went as far as issuing a public apology over another "mistake".

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