Delegates at crime-reduction charity Nacro's annual conference accused politicians of trying to "outdo each other on toughness" and said it was public perception rather than behaviour that had changed.
But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said perception had become a reality. Referring to his Winchester constituency, he said: "It has changed in the past four or five years. It is now dangerous on a Friday and Saturday night."
Asked if there was a danger of creating an anti-youth culture, prisons minister Paul Goggins said: "We need to do more to build up services for young people. I hope the Government will soon be able to come forward with some very clear proposals."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
