Blair announces plans to tackle bad parents

Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced plans to tackle bad parenting and anti-social behaviour in his first speech since his summer holiday.

Speaking in Watford, following a visit to a family centre, Mr Blair announced plans to extend the use of parenting contracts and orders.

The Prime Minister said: "A parenting order can make clear to parents their responsibility to ensure that their child attends school, that the child takes part in literacy or numeracy clubs or that they attend programmes dealing with problems such anger management or alcohol misuse.

"Parenting orders can also stop children visiting areas such as shopping centres and ensure a child is at home being supervised at night."

Under the new proposals, the number of people able to apply for parenting orders and implement contracts would be extended to include housing officers, community safety officers and others.

The new powers would also be applied to children at an earlier stage, under the new measures, with plans to issue the orders when children show signs of involvement in anti-social behaviour, not when they commit a criminal offence.

The Prime Minister is making respect a major issue of his third term in power.

A new government task force has been established under the ‘Respect’ agenda, headed by Louise Casey.

Ms Casey commented: "Eighty-five percent of the public believe that parents not bringing up their children properly are responsible for anti-social behaviour, which is why this new announcement is so important. This is the first step we're taking in the Respect drive which will help ensure that parents are able to instil in their children a sense of respect for themselves, their families and the wider community."

The government also announced plans to give schools the powers to require pupils who have been excluded for a fixed term to attend alternative educational provision, such as vocational training.

Parents of excluded pupils will also now face prosecution or penalty notices of up to £100, as well as parenting contracts and orders backed up by £1,000 fines, if they do not ensure that the child attends the alternative provision.

(KMcA/SP)