More young criminals to be named and shamed in bid to cut knife crime

More children may be named and shamed by the courts in a bid to cut youth crime, it was revealed today.

The Government's widely-trailed Youth Crime Action Plan said ministers would ask judges to consider widening the number of cases in which 16 and 17-year-old offenders could be publicly named.

Newspapers and broadcasters are banned from naming most criminals under 18, apart from in exceptional cases, usually involving extreme violence.

Today's proposal could see anonymity being lifted far more regularly.

Today's £100 million package featured two schemes which allow young criminals to avoid being prosecuted for their actions if they take steps to improve their behaviour.

The Government said the new Youth Conditional Caution will be piloted from next April to 'reduce the number of young people being taken to court for relatively low-level offences whilst providing a robust response to their offending'.

Ministers will also consider expanding a scheme which sees children involved in low-level crime avoiding prosecution if they meet their victim and apologise.

Eight police forces have been involved in a pilot version of the scheme, known as the Youth Restorative Disposal, it said.

The document also proposed:

• Making more child criminals carry out 'reparation' such as unpaid work in the community on Friday and Saturday nights

• Opening youth centres late in evenings and at weekends to keep youngsters occupied

• Giving residents a say in the work young criminals should be forced to carry out in the community with the creation of citizens' panels

• Increasing the number of Asbos which also feature a parenting order, so the families have to become involved in improving a child's behaviour

• Expanding a scheme which sees police remove lone children from the streets at night

• Increasing police after-school patrols, targeting trouble-spots

• Targeting the families of up to 20,000 unruly kids by 2010 with a programme designed to improve behaviour, with the possibility of eviction from council houses if they fail to comply

• Asking employers to improve employability of young people with criminal records, and ensuring suitable accommodation is available for young offenders when they leave custody

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: 'Increasingly we are able to identify these young people early and intervene to address the root causes of their behaviour, including supporting and challenging their parents in meeting their responsibilities.

'But I want to call on parents to play their part. Tough enforcement and policing is only one part of the solution.'

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: 'For that small minority of out of control young people custody is the answer.

'The crimes they have committed are so serious that there can be no other way of dealing with them. If they deserve to be inside, they will go there.

'One aim of the new action plan is to divert young people away from crime, so that they are not unnecessarily drawn into the criminal justice system.

'The plan will ensure that those at risk of offending are identified as quickly as possible and, along with their families, are given appropriate levels of support to tackle the cause of their behaviour.'

Assistant general secretary of probation union Napo, Harry Fletcher, said: "This is an extremely disappointing plan.

It is a mish-mash of previously piloted measures such as curfews, parenting orders and evening community work.

'The additional money for problem families is welcome but is wholly inadequate.

'The £100 million designed to help problems families will be spread over two-and-a-half years.

'This therefore equates to less than £2,000 per annum per family unit.'