"We regret the disruption in service to our loyal audiences in Sri Lanka, but such targeted interference in our programmes is a serious breach of trust with those audiences, which the BBC cannot allow, " he said.

BBC: suspends Sri Lanka broadcasts due to 'interference'

It said most of the responsibility was being placed on drug and alcohol action teams, which were often run jointly with councils, but these tended to focus on the most serious cases that required detox and counselling programmes.

BBC: NHS alcohol services 'struggling'

He did not rule it out, but said they would lose a lot of public funding - for teaching, "possibly" for research, for capital programmes - "so it would be a very serious step for any university to take".

BBC: University funding plans delayed again

The plan proposed five far-reaching programmes to help prevent young people being drawn into a lifestyle which led to serious violence.

BBC: Mayor Boris Johnson's violent youth scheme criticised