YOUTH CRIME

In the run-up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections, First Minister Jack McConnell has announced Labour's plans to crack down on the growing problem of youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

These proposals include making offenders repair the damage they've done, increased penalties for graffiti and vandalism, introducing "acceptable behaviour contracts" between offenders and the police, and imposing housing tenancy penalties (threat of eviction by any other name) against the families of repeat offenders.

Tough though these measures may seem to some, there are those who think they don't go nearly far enough.