In his first speech following his return, the Prime Minister announced anew cross-government Respect Task Force and a drive to increase the useof court-imposed parenting contracts and orders.
The proposals include widening who can apply for parenting orders toinclude community safety and housing officers. There are also plans fororders to be made before an actual offence has been committed but whereit is thought there is a risk of crime or anti-social behaviour.
The measures are likely to be widely welcomed. Increased support forparents and help to develop their skills can't do any harm, and may evenmake a difference in some cases.
The problem is that the way the measures have been announced and thecentral place they have been given in the Government's respect agendapander to a populist view that children and young people are the causeof the problem. But adults can be as guilty of the kind of selfishnessthat makes life miserable for others as children can be. It is notusually children who dump bags of rubbish in the street, or startdrunken fights in public.
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