Blair to tackle 'menace' children

[Joolstoo]

story

"He said teenage mums and problem families could be forced to take help to head off difficulties.

He said the government had to intervene much earlier to prevent problems developing when children were older.

There could be sanctions for parents who refused to take advice, he said"

Oi, I resent that slur on cheesey names.

Most teenagers do want to hang out in groups, and there aren't many places where they can do that without adults looking askance. We need to provide somewhere they can go to just be with their mates.

It is true there is nothing for them to do but that in some ways misses the point. They just want to get together to socialise and don't necessarily have common interests or activities.

The problem is that there is nowhere to go - we don't have the cafe culture of Italy or Spain. And hanging around the market place is perceived as threatening whereas actually they are just meeting their friends in the piazza!! I watched teenagers come and go from a cafe in Spain, it was a great and safe place to congregate, they weren't being forced out of society.

I didn't hang around in a large group either but then didn't have the opportunity as all my friends lived miles away (grammar school catchment area). I actually envy my son and socially it is far more mature than I was at that age.

The large group can be deceptive by the way, they are very fluid, kids come and go.

Intervention might be useful in circumstances such as when children are like some seen on tv where they damage neighbours property, swear @ them if anyone says anything etc etc & then the parents do nothing to tell them off about it & don't really care what they get up to.

I don't see why teenage mums need to be mentioned at all. Surely problem families would cover all aspects as a mum & child is still a family IMO (albeit a smaller one than a couple with children).

Quangle - I went to a private school about 20 miles from home so I guess I wasn't in a position to hang about with the other kids but I can't say I missed it. I used to have to overcome crippling awkwardness when in big groups of my own age so it would have been hell on earth to me.

I also really admire my children's ease amongst their peers - they are a lot more free-range than I was so have learnt to find their place, and their school is just round the corner. I am really hoping that they don't end up hanging about at a lose end when they are older but they probably will.

the whole thing sucks and what blair said just sums up how high up his own arse he is. he has done nothing for people living in poverty, all he has managed to do is make the divide between rich and poor wider

This smacks of a man desperate to stay in power so has come up with another hairbrained idea, so that he has to stay to see it through to fruition. I'm all for help for those of us that need it, but stererotyping teenage mothers as the route cause of all problem children - . I'm sure there are plenty of teenagers who come from all kinds of different backgrounds who cause problems due to boredom, peer pressure etc. I am for programs that assist, but complete intereference absolutely not - 1984 here we come. Many parents are already feeling pressured because of vaccination programs etc so what now - you have to undergo genetic testing to ensure you're not breeding a vandal in the making.

I do think something has to be done about the antisocial brats that are shown on the tv. In most cases their parents don't seem to do anything to control them & maybe don't even care what their kids have been doing so perhaps there should be some intervention.

& I'm sure that to some having an ASBO just makes them "hard" and is something to brag about!

yes paretnts need help and yes if we cut the shit - we really do know who tony blair is talkinga bout - it would be nice if parents could actually learnt o enjoy their children instead of them becoming a 16 year long burden.

however as some have pointed out there are other factors which are not bein addressed. along with this approach needs to be a culturl integration.

Youth services are too over regulated - kids cant just go have a game of pool anymore. why isn't funding available just to have a place where kids can play pool?

i got to a point in my life about 25 when i realised that the world wasn't run by the elected people in power hahah

Such a huge thing, this.

I live in a wealthy area of London. Much of the behaviour I see from 'naice' middle class children depresses me. Children on their way to ballet/Kumon/music classes who talk to their au pairs as though they were shit.

I've had to force an apology from a school friend of DS1's who behaved disgustingly to his Polish au-pair and, when challenged, said....''It doesn't matter. We pay her.''

I find this kind of stuff more damaging in the long run than the asbo families that I suspect TB is talking about.

True, the middle-class kid is not as likely to be out at night at the age of 8 smashing up cars etc. And, before anyone jumps on me, I'm not suggesting that all children from 'problem' families will necessarily do this. But I'm sure that this total lack of respect filters down through society.

I was struck several years ago, when reading about the James Bulger case, by the fact that Thompson and Venables were both known to be regularly out at night at a very young age getting into all sorts. What chance did they have? If TB's intended measures will give some hope to the (very) young children regularly caught on CCTV's smashing up cars etc than it can only be a good thing. But I don't imagine that the resources are there to provide this help.