 Mr Mallon says his proposal would reduce anti-social behaviour |
A high profile mayor, who rose to prominence as a tough-talking police officer, has called for the parents of rowdy youths to be sent to jail. The Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, already wants the children of persistent criminals to be taken into care to save them from a life of crime.
Now he says parents should serve time in prison if it is shown they cannot control criminally active children.
Mr Mallon was dubbed Robocop for his zero-tolerance approach to policing.
The former Cleveland Police officer, who was elected mayor in 2002, said: "Anti-social behaviour is simply getting out of control."
Arresting children
Earlier this month Mr Mallon said tougher action needed to be taken against persistent young offenders.
He said his idea came after three decades of arresting the children and grandchildren of criminals. But he added the measures should only be used in "worst case scenarios".
Mr Mallon said: "It is incumbent on parents to control their children.
"If they do not control them, then for high level anti-social behaviour offences, those children should actually be placed in custody.
"That means going to a young offenders institution or whatever.
"But on top of that, I also believe that the parents should pay a price and they should go to jail too."
Mr Mallon came to prominence when he brought his tough policing model to Britain from the US as head of CID in Middlesbrough during the 1990s, before embarking on a political career.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
