David Fraser, a former senior probation officer and author of Land Fit For Criminals, says there is a "very big youth crime problem in this country" and that government "is in denial about it", with about 300, 000 crimes committed by children under 16 every year.

BBC: Are we negative about our children?

Today, boarded-up houses, graffiti, burned-out cars and a huge crime and anti-social behaviour problem have been replaced with sport's centres and libraries youth clubs.

BBC: Taking Back the Streets