Editorial: We need a clear policy on young people

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is committed to a children's commissioner and a culture in which young people are valued and catered for. The Home Office has its antisocial behaviour legislation and avowed intent to crack down on "yobs" - in other words, young people.

Speaking at an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of youth social enterprise organisation Changemakers, Margaret Hodge bemoaned campaigns such as The Sun's Shop-a-Yob initiative that contribute to a popular image of young people as hooligans, despite the reality that nine out of 10 young people contribute to their communities through voluntary work.

But it's difficult to reconcile this concern about the image of young people in the popular media when Labour's policies facilitate coverage such as that in Wolverhampton's Express & Star. The regional daily newspaper recently dedicated two whole pages to naming and shaming 24 underage "criminals" who were the subject of antisocial behaviour orders.