LIVERPOOL: It's time to sort yobs

It's time to sort yobs

IT has long been argued that if the epidemic of youth disorder is to be eradicated then imaginative solutions are needed. So it is heartening to see the chief constable of Merseyside police come up with his ideas on how to tackle it.

Bernard Hogan-Howe wants to examine the possibility of making parents responsible for the actions of their children – with police and other public bodies given free reign to mete out a range of punitive measures, ranging from evictions and temporary exclusion orders to prison sentences and fines.

His proposals will inevitably provoke debate, which can only be a good thing because the time has surely come for everyone to lay their cards on the table.

Mr Hogan-Howe has given us a starting point for the much needed debate and now all interested parties must get involved.

But whatever your point of view it must be borne in mind that the chief constable is speaking from a position of experience when it comes to dealing with youth disorder problems.

He is not talking about refusing to help those parents and families who need it; rather he wants to offer them all the help they require while targeting parents who refuse to provide their children with the care and discipline which should come as a matter of course.

Like it or not, crunch time is here as there are far too many youngsters who are out of control and who are making people’s lives a misery in the areas in which they live.

Every single option needs to be explored because otherwise we run the risk of having half-baked solutions foisted upon us which will end up doing little to tackle the problem.

Mr Hogan-Howe has got the ball rolling with an imaginative suggestion which deserves our full consideration.

The challenge now is for other interested parties to come up with potential alternatives until the full range of public opinion has been represented.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/views/our-view/2007/10/01/it-s-time-to-sort-yobs-100252-19876577/