Plea to parents over gang crime

Parents sometimes think, she said, that their teenagers rarely listen to them, but "actually they do".

She added that was the reason she has launched an eight-page booklet advising parents how to spot if their child is in a gang.

She said: "Of course there are problems. There are people - some relatively young - who are willing to commit horrendous acts of violence. But what we also know is that we can change things by working together."

She continued: "I think that parents are a vital source of support both within communities and, specifically, to their own children and to young people."

The Gangs: You and Your Child booklet talks parents through practical steps to take if they think their child is in a gang and how to stop them getting involved in gang culture.

It suggests looking out for the teenager using new or unusual slang words, using a new nickname and suddenly acquiring new possessions or money.

Parents are advised to be involved in their child's life, to know their friends and their friends' families, and to encourage them to get involved in positive pastimes and activities. The booklet also advocates listening to a child's reasons for being in a gang and talking through the consequences instead of issuing orders and ultimatums.

It was developed with the help of the Association of Chief Police Officers, local authorities and parenting organisations like the Family and Parenting Institute and community groups including Mothers Against Violence.

It will initially be distributed in areas involved in the Government's Tackling Gangs Action Programme - London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.