Balls: 'Baby Asbos' offer balanced approach

Schools secretary Ed Balls insists today's plan to force behaviour contracts on troubled teenagers will help "bring respite to communities".

Commenting as the government published its youth taskforce action plan, Mr Balls described the measures as "strong actions" targeting the underlying causes of antisocial behaviour.

"Recognising these problems doesn't condone bad behaviour - nor is help a soft option," he insisted.

"In the end where young people and families don't accept help to change their behaviour then the right thing to do is to use antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) and individual support orders."

Explaining the government's policy of balancing enforcement with early prevention, he continued: "Communities want lasting improvements and that means not only stopping bad behaviour when it occurs but also changing it and intervening early to stop bad behaviour spiralling into future offending.

"That is also why we are investing record sums in positive activities for young people to make sure they have places to go and things to do at weekends and in the evenings."