People

Garry Newlove, 47, was fatally injured outside his home in Fearnhead, Warrington after he’d gone out to confront a gang of youths who he believed had been vandalising his wife Helen's car one night in August 2007.

Helen Newlove: 'Take a stand'

During the trial of his three teenage killers, Chester Crown Court was told that Mr Newlove was ‘kicked like a football,’ and died two days later from a massive brain haemorrhage.

Three teenagers Adam Swellings, 19, Stephen Sorton, 17, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, were found guilty of the murder of Mr Newlove.

Gangs

Speaking after the court case, Helen Newlove condemned gangs of youths who "hung around street corners", drinking alcohol and committing crime.

She added: "Parents have to face up to their responsibilities. Having children is unconditional and there is not a time limit to it."

How can society tackle youth crime?

She added that if parents failed to take responsibility for their children, they should face police action.

"We need to make our streets safe to walk out on and not be afraid of retaliation. Until this government puts into place an effective deterrent, the youth of today know too well that they can get away with their actions."

Have Your Say

What’s your experience of teenage gangs on your streets? Is alcohol the main problem? Can parents be forced to take responsibility for the actions of their children? Maybe you're a teenager - what's your view?

Your comments

Harry Yates in Mottram

Canada had,amnd could still have, a system that all off sale purchasers had to produce a licence with photo identification issued by the government. This should be adopted here.Adults buying booze for teenagers should be heavily penalised. I have been approached outside shops by teenagers asking me to buy booze for them. Shops selling alcohol without inspecting the licence should have thier own licences to sell withdrawn.

Sharon Atkinson in Denton

I believe that now is the time to take a strong view and action, with the example of the foreign countrys who make it compulsary for all, all, 16 year old to go straight into the Army for at lest 2 years. The government need to make this a law now in this land. this will sort this generation of young ones back into order , rules, discipline, respect, and manors.

Jean in Blackpool

clubs you have to pay for,and when on low income you cannot. And it is against the law to chastise your kids. you can not be with your kids 24/7 and kids will be kids. police and parents should be able to punish kids accordingly. national service for boys and girls. parents are not always to blame,then there are some parents think the sun shines, my kids will not do that. A child will do anything for attention good or bad.Make school days longer 9-5 like the rest of us workers. make jail time jail not a holiday/college camp, should be hard labour. combine school and national service. Not just kids we have tackle its adluts as well lets face it if adluts are getting a way with it why not them.make things harder for them, make them work 9-5, stop all benifits. HARD LABOUR, NATIONAL SERVICE. after that they will not have any time to do any crime

Ray in Chorley

since 1980 the word dicipline has been ignored,politicians gave people more control over their lives,but without responsibility.we need law makers with guts to force reasonable behaviour from parents and schools from a young age.also we require justice and punishment from our courts.as of now we have no deterent.

Nicole in Lancaster

As far as proportioning blame is concerned, parents and the government are an easy target. I think that we as adults have to look at our own behaviour. For example, our own attitudes to drink and drugs and how we encourage this behaviour to go out and drink. I also think that we have to look at other factors such as low priced alcohol. The messages we are sending to young people ourselves. Whilst at the same time also promoting young people who have joined local groups and have made a difference to the area in which they live. Also people should remember would they challenge someone who is rowdy and taller than them and put themselves in the position of the young persons parents. This young person may have a brother or sister who is well behaved and does well at school. They may also have medical, mental or physical problems.

Sharri in Wigan

the police do nothing.Asbos what a joke just give them a pat on the back. my family was terrorised for over a year our car vandalised and the toddlers bikes stolen and smashed up, by a 13 year old who spent her evenings drinking wine. We called the council and the police they did nothing. her mother did nothing except have more children. Not all parents are bad parents but not enough is done to protect them.GET something done about the genuinely bad parents and distiguish between theso that are trying. I am happy to say i have 5 children aged 4-14 and they know how to behave

John, 15, in Manchester

Take the legal drinking age down to 16! Im 15 and if my freinds could get beer at all shops we would all just get some and then go to a house and drink or even just go to a pub or a nightclub because that is what most teenagers want to do, we only go out on the streets because there is no where else we can drink without getting cause by adults or by the police. When the police catch you all they do is take the beer off you and ask for your names, you give fakes names..what the hell does that do?? all it does is make up annoyed, then when people get in our way we are abusive and cause trouble. But i do think if they lower it to 16 there would still be a few lads around on the streets but no where near as many as there is now.

Graham in Widnes

Alcoholic drinks are too readily available in supermarkets and off licences. The sale of them should be heavily reduced in order to stop them being too easily accessible to children.

Sharon Leather in Neston

No one has mentioned bringing back corporal punishment in school. We had the cane and it never did us any harm. This is where the problem starts as kids thing they can get away with anything. Lack of Respect.

Stephen Hinde in Carnforth

Over successive goverments sanctions have been removed both at home and at school. The lack of discipline refelects how a child reacts to authority. How can a teacher instill discipline, if there is no redress to unacceptable behaviour. All children need to abide by rules. Our goverments have taken them away or watered them down.As a retired Police Officer I used to dish out summary punishment that nowadays would result in me geting punished. The youths that are now men have often reflected over their summary punishments and 100% agree that they diserved it and that it taught them a salutory lesson that made them more respectful. If society lacks respect then it can only expect a refection in attitudes. Violence is no more endemic now than other decades,but as always 90% of crime is committed by less than 10% of the population. Give back the sanctions and society will recover.

Hilary in Runcorn

Why should tax payers money , be wasted on the police force so they can prevent youths getting up to mischief, or worse still killing innocent people? Prevention is always better than cure . Starting up youth clubs is a good option as is reintrducing National service. Many parents are to blame ,as they don't seem to care what their kids are up to and they set a terrible example, by doing drugs and drinking themselves. Parents must be held responsible for their childrens behaviour.

Trish Vanderveer in Wallasey

Personally I really enjoy young people and unlike many other people,do not feel threatened by them. I have seen middle aged people cross the road rather than walking past a group of 16 or 17 year olds. What I do know, from talking and listening to youths in our area, is that they feel disliked & not wanted. Youths are vital to our communities and our futures, it is about time we started to include them rather than pushing them away and excluding them. By the time the youth get around to committing violence, there have been numerous opportunities to intervene and stop escalation. Whether that is by accurate & timely assessment of emerging problems and offering alternatives and help. Simply locking them up will not solve or stop the violence problem. The roots lie in our communities, attitudes and our homes.

Dawn in Merseyside

Unfortunatley, our Goverment are weak and therfore nothing will be done AGAIN. They talk the talk about how they are going to introduce tougher laws and do this and that, but when it comes to it they do nothing. We as a nation are being failed by our goverment and it's about time that they earnt their money and put the Great back into Great Britain. Introduce army style boot camps for these disrespectful thugs, so they can be taught respect.

Carol in Oldham

luckily i have no experience of teen gangs where i live,but then again i very rarely go out at night.I think there should be boot camps for children from age 14 if they do not want to attend school where they will learn respect and be taught skills ready for starting work.

Alan Ainsworth in Darwen

Most of us can relate to the various stories in one way or another, as a parent and a grandparent I feel that, If an individual finds them self under investigation or has been arrested but "cannot be named for legal reasons" then the parent or guardian who is legally responsible for that person must be placed in the public eye. This would make parents sit up and think about where and what their child is doing on someone else's street. Its all about taking responsibility and keeping your own house in order and not blaming others outside the family circle.

Shawn, 15 from Ormskirk

They need to send more police out on the streets and clamp down on them or they should be in at a certain time or they get took home

Richard in Urmston

The goverment/Police will forget about this in 6 months and give it 2 years and gangs will do exactly the same... come on Gordon Brown smell the coffee.. deal with it now!!! What is this country coming to were a laughing stock

Shirley in London

The young people in Warrington have said they were bored and had nothing to do and that groups of young people had started drinking. We know that boredom and under confidence can make young people vulnerable to alcohol misuse. That’s why it’s great to see Mentor UK’s interest in hearing about schemes that help youngsters avoid the risks of trying alcohol by tackling boredom or the lack of aspiration, or schemes that encourage achievement and motivation. If the Cheshire chief constable on patrol the night Mr Newlove was kicked to death by the gang has said that more needed to be done to prevent drunk teenagers doing "stupid things", then people in this area should see if there are clubs, schools or projects that could benefit from these awards.

Jackie in Swinton

I reported an attack fortunately no one was killed this time, I told the police what I saw they said would I be prepared to go to court if had to, I didn't mind this but what I did mind is that they would have to give my name to the criminals lawyers and then they would have know who I was because my son is the same age from what I could see when the attack was happening, its disgusting and no wonder people don't report things their own safety is in danger, there was also an incident in Swinton where a man was murdered and kicked outside Yates and they got off with this attack, the rules need to be the same a life for a life and that's that.

Vicky in Denmark

This anarchy we've got used to is never going to change whilst the politically correct spineless do-gooders are in charge. I've moved abroad permanently because I was sick of living in fear and it's the best thing I've ever done. You shouldn't have to but I would get out of the UK if you can... the weather's better anyway!

Bob in Winsford

If they like fighting so much send them for a tour of duty in Iraq!

Aki in Bury

Its time the government re-introduced the NATIONAL SERVICE an make all the youngsters serve at least 3 years. And that will solve crime, underage drinking, learn the youngsters of today how to respect, and also will fill the shortage gap of the military. National service is the answer.

Eric in Ashton

Due to too many left wing liberals (1960's & 70's university fodder)being in power, nothing at all will be done about Gary Newlove's death. His killers will be out in a few short years and in that time there will lots more Mr Newlove's! Whilst we have "moral free" solicitors willing to defend people like these "animal droppings" to the hilt then we will have to put up with it. The Government for their part will just come up with a new law, that will serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever.

Howard in Stockport

I notice Mr Brown has gone to china today .He should have not of gone he should be sorting out these gangs or yobs in this country first as it is going tragically downhill here

Natalie in Manchester

These yobs should be made to fight for their country. forget prison its like a holiday camp.

Wayne Barnes

gangs are started because/when parents allow their children to go out and do what they want.

Gary Cooper in Bury

The solution could be to introduce a kind of curfew that involves any minor/teenagers on the street after dark MUST be accompanied by their parent otherwise suitable punishment to both parent and child be awarded.

Dave Parry in Runcorn

It's magistrates that baffle me. About 20yrs ago i was fined £100 for a traffic offence. Ihad £17 left of the fine to pay when i had trouble getting the payments together and was brought before the magistrates. Just before my case an habitual house breaker was given a slap on the wrist and let go.When it came to my turn i was given a weeks jail sentence suspended for a year though i had never been in trouble before. Where is the logic?

Terry in Leigh

I know what the terror is like as i was held at knifepoint just over the keys of my car,these yobs should be locked up for along long time.

Jim Devlin in Warrington

The UK has completely lost the plot . Police in other countries don't take abuse from Yobs . We only feel safe when we get to our House in Spain and see police on the street , all armed , but we have never seen trouble. Fines in Spain under age drinkers 2000 euros Yes. Get me out of here.

Paul in Flixton

The question of crime in today’s society is obviously a huge issue and will not be improved by a single measure. However, I don’t think we will see ANY improvement until we have a government with some BALLS in place and that is not a sexist comment I mean it metaphorically. In an ideal world we would look to help and rehabilitate offenders, however, I feel this is not a luxury we do not have nowadays. More prisons need to be built and these people need to be removed from our society. Forget rehabilitation, forget deterrants even to an extent forget punishment, just remove them from our society…PERMANENTLY!

Carol Harrison in Worsley

With regard to your discussion about gangs of unruly teenagers I feel very strongley that parents should take responsibility for their own children's actions. I am a mother of 3 boys aged 23, 20 and 16 and for 7 years I was a single parent, but I always knew where my boys were and who they were with. On the odd occasion when the eldest 2 were up to no good they were punished accordingly! Its not easy bringing up kids but if you have them they are your responsibility not any one elses. Maybe the way forward is to prosecute the parents of these hooligans Either fines or imprisonment. Children dont seem to have any respect for adults anymore whats happened to family values?

Jacqui in Manchester

We need to take a leaf out of the USA and have Zero tolerance on youth drinking and drinking in the street and public places and put more resorces into enforcing it.

Alan Royston in Stockport

Will those who have been elected to represent us please wake up. Zero tolerance it will have to be, we've lost the plot now and its about time we harrassed these idiots off the streets. Round them up and take them home. Make sure their parents take responsibility. No more Mr Newlove's! It brought me to tears and I feel so sad for his wife and children. For heaven's sake do something, and now.

Sam in Manchester

1. Introduce curfews.
2. National Service for under 25's.
3. Anyone found in a group of more than 3 people would not be allowed.

Frank Sentinella in Manchester

National Service is the answer. Not as a punishment, nor to rid the neighbourhood of youngsters. Eighteen months military service would provide the element of risk, the sense of adventure and competitiveness - intrinsic ingredients in youths' psyche - that are lacking in young lives today. Military service would sharpen his knowledge of himself, and give him a sense of self-esteem and value. In short, make a man of him, rather than a cowering wimp who resorts to alcohol in order to feel 'big'.

Keith in Manchester

Shouldn't the person who allows bail have to answer for allowing these people out. After all they are part of the crime.

Gordon at Thelwall

Lets see the sentence handed down to these young thugs I suspect they will be back on our streets in 3 to 4 years what price a life

Roger in Cheadle Hulme

If the offender is under 18, the parent(s) should also face the law and the consequences.

Emm in Middleton

Last thurs evening we rang the police after one of our visitors had his car windows smashed by someone with a spanner. We witnessed it and know where the vandal lives. The police said they'd be at least half an hour. We waited up til about 2am but no one came even now. Our visitor is now talking about sorting it out himself. 

Gary in Manchester

Bullies are responsible for mr Newlove's death but is it any wonder bullying goes on? It starts at the top with MPs. All you have to do is look at the political news and the verbal bullying a MP took yesterday and his boss mr Brown started it.

Tony in St Helens

we have a gang on ower estate in st helens that have been smashing old folks property up for years the gang start every friday & saturday night coz the police wont respond coz thay are all in the town center thay turn up sunday or monday when its to late.

Dirk in Tldesley

It would be interesting to see what the do gooders that dont want children or youths properly chastised children and youths have no respect for elders or police. An eye 4 an eye is the answer 2 the yobs

Joan in Wigan

I can hear the do gooders now. Bang them up for life and their parents with them. They will never change.

Chris

The alcohol licence should be taken from Off Licences that sell to under age & are usualy owned by highly religious non drinking people on these estates. Adults have to run the world again, kids need to know their place.

Andy in Bolton

What angers me about the Garry Newlove case is not the fact people will forget. The government will.

Terry from Tyldesley

Re. Gary Newlove - nothing will change & give it 6 months & half people listening too this will not remember his name.

Roy in Oldham

There are scum gangs like this in nearly all towns and villages in the UK and the only way to sort it is for the government and the EU ministers to change things and give the police the power to do there job and not rely on spineless councillors who will say there is no problem within their towns.