GREENWICH: Greenwich politicians discuss youth crime with Home Secretary (From This Is Local London)

GREENWICH: Greenwich politicians discuss youth crime with Home Secretary

11:43am Wednesday 6th August 2008 in Local Politics

Politicians from the borough have met with the Home Secretary to discuss the problem of youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

MP for Erith and Thamesmead John Austin and MP for Eltham Clive Efford, met with the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, on July 24, to discuss ways of tackling youth crime in the borough.

The MPs stressed that the problem could not be solved by the police and the government on their own and that more legislation was not the answer.

They added that there was a need to engage with communities and young people.

Mr Austin said: "I welcome initiatives to engage with young people over the internet to get their ideas about what can be done to tackle youth violence and crime.

"We need to be doing more to use media outlets which are targeted at young people to encourage them to participate."

Mr Efford called for the money from dormant bank accounts to be used for youth facilities and given directly to local communities instead of councils.