Crime blitz parents facing eviction

Ministers are to insist that parents take responsibility for their offspring as they unveil the Government's much-trailed youth crime strategy.

Plans to crack down on knife crime had descended into chaos on Monday after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith denied suggesting that offenders could be taken to see their victims in A&E.

Despite discussing the idea in a series of interviews, Ms Smith said she had only been proposing that criminals meet doctors to hear about the consequences of their actions.

However, the Tories and Lib Dems claimed she had been forced into a U-turn after strong criticism from doctors and victims' groups.

Earlier, Gordon Brown had stressed the Government's determination to tackle crime after a series of high-profile knife attacks, acknowledging that people felt under threat.

"Too many people, young and old, do not feel safe in the streets, and sometimes even in their homes, as a result of the behaviour of a minority," the Prime Minister told his regular Downing Street press conference. "We need to make it absolutely clear to everyone, but especially young people, that in our country there are boundaries of acceptable behaviour."

There are about 110,000 households in which children are thought to be at risk of becoming prolific offenders - and where authorities are to target special support.

Up to 20,000 families could face eviction from their homes if they fail to rein in their offspring, according to Mr Brown.

Youngsters who carry knives could also face being forced to spend their Friday and Saturday nights carrying out hundreds of hours of community punishment, under the Youth Crime Action Plan.