Parents of vandals must go back to class

Parents who let their children run riot are targeted in a new clampdown on nuisance neighbours unveiled today.

Compulsory parenting classes and the threat of eviction from council housing will be used to force improvements in behaviour.

The promises follow findings that a relatively small number of "families from hell" are blamed by fellow residents for much of the misery on unruly estates.

Under plans announced by Home Office Minister Hazel Blears, some parents could face court orders to attend classes on childrearing and curbing difficult teenagers. Councils will be urged to threaten families with eviction if they refuse to co-operate.

This builds on existing proposals to make parents of under-10s pay compensation of up to ?5,000 if their children commit vandalism. About 4,000 acts of vandalism a year are caused by children under the age of criminal responsibility.

Seven in 10 families deemed a nuisance are targeted because of child rather than adult behaviour. A Home Office study of 100 of the most "difficult" families showed 45 per cent believed a pilot of the new scheme had helped them to change their behaviour.

"It's clear to me tough enforcement and the possibility of eviction does concentrate the minds of those involved," Ms Blears said.

The minister will present an award to a couple who stood up to two families terrorising an estate in Salford, Greater Manchester.