The government could increase the tax on alchohol so youngsters could not afford to buy them. Parents should educate their children about drinking problem while they are very young. Also if law could be imposed that parents would have to bear some sort of responsibilities to their children behaviours perhaps then everyone will take serious action to educate their youths. I felt digusted that when I heard some youths said that they liked to get drunk which made them felt happy. How ridiculous is that!!
It is simply not right that those youths that have commited crimes should be let go free of bail. What a message that we are sending to these unlawful people! Society should get a grip of this problem and no point of relying on government totally. Stop the drunk culture now before it's too late to control them.

jsy, Edinburgh, UK

In claiming that 'drinking culture' was to blame for this incident the chief constable is tacitly saying that his officers were to blame for allowing it to happen. His attempt to divert attention is so shallow even the most naive can see throught it. but it conforms to government think, the greater good and social control.
In fact, The police are NOT to blame nor is 'the drinking culture'. So why does he not point to the failures within the criminal justice system that places no prominence in the 'punishment of offenders' rather than calling for banning under 21's from drinking? This sad incident is scandalously being used to promote the demonising of drink rather than punishing the ones responsible and to cloud the reality of our pathetic criminal justice policies. It is easier to blame the drink rather than the personalities who know that they will receive very little punishment. These three may even gain greater kudos amongst their peers, encouraging more of the same.

Steve, Durham, UK

this kid deserves to be shot, you can't blame drinking culture, i've been drunk many times and never felt the need to stamp on someones head, you have to blame their upbringing and they need to be dissuaded from this behavior of thinking whatever they do has no consequences, if they were lined up for corporal punishement they wouldn't be so keen to have fights

tim, london, england

I am sure that Mrs Newlove speaks for all of us like minded hard working citizens, who are sick to death, of antisocial behaviour, the wholly ineffectual policing, and criminal justice system that let's these yobs roam our streets creating mayhem, and killing honest people who are just trying to protect their property, from the actions of these mindless drunken morons.

My family's thoughts are with this very brave family, I hope in time they can find piece.

Rex Trotter, Coventry,

Contrary to Robert ElCid's comment above, unfortunately our Community Support Police Officers are worse than useless, and in fact seem to support the antisocial activities of the few resulting in persecution of the innocent. also, unfortunately again, the 20-year-old (police officer) son of a former police officer in our village is almost always seen speeding in his car, last time seen yesterday morning hurtling past our car (in a 30mph zone) at well over 80 mph before doing a handbrake turn into his mother's driveway. Until the law is seen to act properly and be effective in its pursuit of criminals then too many will continue to 'get away with it'. in Germany and other european countries the justice system is efficient and 'has teeth' which are put into use. It is comfortable abroad to be aware of a discrete but continuous police presence which promotes a feeling of safety and minimises the liklihood of any trouble. Perhaps an example we should follow?
Chris Beeching

Chris Beeching, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex

We, the people, have a social duty to wrest control of the streets back from those who would see it as an urban jungle.

This is supposedly why we have a police force and justice system. Having seen police regularly avoiding confrontation and actually running away from groups of feral youths, I doubt whether we currently have the means to achieve anything.

Although the problem lies deep rooted in social decadence, the symptoms have to be controlled. This is a bigger threat to our country than the so called terrorist war.

There are effective steps that can be taken, nost of them either forbidden by law or outside the perceived remit of the justice system.

However, the warnings are clear. Unless something drastic is done, localised civil war is inevitable and many streets in Britain will be a bloodbath. Hands-off policing must be made a thing of the past.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

The Police need to give the community back its streets. The last time I spoke to youths at my home and I chased them the youths rang the Police to come and arrest me!!! If I had hit or god forsake hurt one of them I would have been arrested The Police told me this. We the men of this country can't and aren't allowed to intervene with youths because we will be arrested and prosecuted with the full weight of the law.

These young lads have destroyed not only a life and a family but they have destroyed any chance of a good future for themselves and their families. What example is being set for these young lads when they know that no one can with the exeption of the Police say or do anything to them without risking their own liberty.

This is no way to teach young men how society should operate. No wonder we are in such a mess. Thanks to the Social policy unit and thanks to the Police for helping to create this.

Mark, Newcastle,

We think that the whole justice system needs to be reviewed. We sympathise with Mrs Newlove's idea to re-introduce National Service, but it's wrong to tar all teens with the same brush. Just concentrate on the violent thugs and create special places for them to learn how to manage their aggression, perhaps in boot-camp style.
If police were more proactive and responded immediately to calls for help, this might not have happened. They knew this area was a magnet for hooligans, so why weren't they patrolling more frequently? And if that boy was under a curfew, why hadn't he been tagged?
Surely citizens in the UK , even young ones, have no excuse to behave like this ? We don't; we find much more consructive ways to spend our time.

Year 12LD, London, UK

Now we await the usual hollow sentences handed out after all 'mitigating' factors have been applied. The government will largely ignore yet another horrific incident in their hopelessness and the country will have to wait for the next election until someone willing to try and tackle youth violence is in a position to do so.

Joe, London,

Every day I thank myself lucky that I left england 7 years ago. How tragic that this poor man should suffer such a terrible fate, and how sad that these three morons should still walk the earth. From the otherside of the world my heart goes out to this tragic widow and her children. Are we in a brave new world...Do we need to segregate maturing adults at age 11.... In light of the new means testing for people on disability allowance, should the govt do a "I am a hyperactive teenager, who has been brought up being unable to separate violent computer games from reality - add a dash of booze, and dysfunctional parents and you have real mix" - Maybe the British Govt can bring in "I am a dysfunctional thug test" this is more likely to bring about public support and cost savings - Peoples lives.

Mark, Sydney, Australia

This is the fault of judges. If he had gone out adequately equipped (bearing in mind that he was out-numbered) to deal with potential violence the police would have soon arrested him and the courts imprisoned him. Although it would be fun to see how a judge would equip himself in such a situation.
The British establishment seems to have no other purpose than to make life difficult, if not impossible, for ordinary Britons.

Eddie Reader, birmingham, england

Welcome to the fruits of liberalism, conceived by comfortable middle class lawyers or career civil servants who are well educated and do not have a clue about the real world. Unless there is a combination of police on the streets and stiff penalties for crime then this problem will just get worse. As it stands, our police force is retreating into large centralised zones, so community policing is disappearing fast-they are becoming reactinary to crimes rather than stopping it in the first place. As for stiff penalties, we all know the ludicrous rights that muggers get, the fact they can sue in prison, the fact that courts are told to be lenient due to a lack of prison space. All we do is give a carrot to these lowlifes and it simply doesn't work.. Crime has to be shown to just not pay-but unfortunately in this country, it pretty much does all round. Thanks liberal Labour-welcome to your true legacy.

Peter S, Plaistow, Kent

"But we can't infrginge their human rights"

"They're only kids"

"I didn't know they were under-age when I sold them the booze"

"If we lock them away they will only learn worse things in prison"

"I blame the parents, you can't expect kids to know how to behave"

I say - "Execute them. That'll be a deterrent alright"

David, St Albans, UK

what the hell is wrong with england?

dave, lonson,

I don't think it is due to a drinking culture, educational policies of yore etc. We pay the police force to keep the peace, not to mop up afterwards. Their low profile, can't be bothered stand is totally responsible. Had there been a lone bobby bimbling down the street at this fatefull time then the crime would not have occurred. The police have totally abandoned the streets.
Had the local MP, police chief etc lived on that road the situation would not have been left to develop.

Ken Wyatt, Todmorden, uk

I hope the judge doesn't blame drink as a mitigating factor when these morons are sentenced. I strongly suspect they would have done the same thing if they were stone cold sober.

colin, london, england

Drinking was the biggest factor in causes of crime,particularly violent crime, throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s from my personal knowledge. There is a lot of previous history in our country about alcohol and its effect on public order. At the end of the day it is about controlling peoples behaviour and their education in this respect, not affordability. Education is I believe the key but with so many people leaving school poorly educated, and who had parents who just dont care, how are we going to stop them turning out the same way.

alan, warks, uk

Until we start handing out life sentences of 50-60 years for this type of behaviour the penny isn't going to drop for these thugs.

They'll probably get no more than 20 years and be out by the time they reach 40.

It makes me both sad and angry.

Neil, Edinburgh,

This was yet another murder committed by stupid kids.

It all goes back to poor state education :

Poorly educated parents + bad current schools + lax justice = bad kids. This feeds into next generation.

Youths should not be allowed to congreate at night: it does nothing for their health, education least the local residents.

While Gordon Brown is in China, he should reflect on the hard working Chinese school children and ask himself where our let- down children will fit into the 21st century knowledge ecconomy ?

roger, london,

If I see a someone beaten up on the stree I will stay away from it even if I am the neighbour or even if I know that person very well thats is how UK public is of course includes me. I think we the public need to come together. I a person is beaten by 4 youths on the stareet and if 6-8 peoples come out of there houses and confront them than that will scare the youths and force them to behave. If today its 6-8 peoples than tomorrow it will be 10-15 peoples support it thats what local comunity is for standing by each other. My next doors hardly talk to me there are very little chances that he will ever come out of his house if ever I am getting beaten up by someone on the street same goes with me. We have to protect our on peoples and police support will follow. We can surely avod such things happening

Shail, Milton Keynes,

Many thousands of people have expressed sorrow for the Newlove family, I amongst them. The events of the night in questioned followed by the ordeal of the Justice system can only have made things worse.

May I add an observation. Since clever Clive and trendy Wendy gained control of our way of educating children back in the 60's, we've appeared to have progressively been failing them, year after year. Gongs, knighthoods and peerages alike, Wendy and Clive still riddle the system, long since being promoted upstairs for their "excellent work" in education (destroying) our kids!

Unlike countries such as Poland (within Europe), children have been left unfetted to disregard authority figures at an early age. They garner disrespect for adults during the course of their education in the knowledge that they are free to do so. So much so, or method of educating people is toward moving them through the process with the minimum fuss and damn the quality.

David Downes, Chester, UK

The Assistant Chief Constable of Cheshire tries to blame the drinking culture. Where were his officers in the months leading up to this murder? Why do law-abiding people live in fear for their lives? Because the police have more important things to do? Surely maintaining the Queens peace and preventing death are fairly high on the list of police priorities, or has this been subverted by the need to trap speeding motorists?

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Might I suggest that some of the useless Police Community Support Officers the government thinks will stem the capital crime wave might usefully be converted into - "hangmen".

Robert El-Cid, Hull,, East Yorks.,

I have to agree with Winston. The way in which the police are allowed to handle cases involving young offenders means that an attatude of complete disrespect for authority has bred among those willing to carry out crimes. They know full well that regardless of what they do in the street the best they will get is a slapped wrist and sent back to their parents who wouldn't give it a second thought; absolutely no punishment what-so-ever. We need to fight this on two fronts the fist being a more reasonable punishment for young offenders; if they steal a car, beat, mug, burgle someone they should be put in prision and not simply told "don't do it next time". The second issue is the parents, we have recently seen a woman who let her child skip school for a year jailed; lets see this happen to parents of children who knowingly allow their children to commit crimes. The time has come to drop this softly softly approach and actually grow a backbone and tackle this with a little more force!

Steve Williamson, Manchester, UK

Mrs Newlove's speech, broadcast on the evening news last night, was deeply moving and plain common sense.

What on Earth are parents thinking of by allowing their "little darlings" to hang around in gangs like this, get drunk and commit any crimes? Tthis wasn't scrumping apples. It was murder fuelled by cheap booze.

The sad thing is that parents don't seem to understand that because of their willful neglect, their children are not going to have successful lives. They won't be educated, they won't get decent jobs. They'll end up miserable - on the dole, or in low paid, low skilled jobs, with little self esteem. Is that what they really want for their children? I find that very difficult to believe.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

Parents' must understand that they and their children share this world with others, and need to respect other people's rights as they wish to have their own respected.

Adrienne, Macclesfield,

This is the end result of liberalism and the bar on corporal punishment. Everyone dog owner knows that if you do not exercise authority to show you are topdog then you show the position is vacant.
The yobs think they rule because the law/ state and adult authority is absent.

Keith Bentham, Wigan, Lancashire

We indulge the ignorant and stupid. We allow our borders to be 'open' to a whole range of wastrels criminals and spongers (and this is not anti immigration, we simply do not vet those we offer what should be long term residence to).

An Asian shopkeeper local to us thinks that a lot of white trash for example are now fighting for the right NOT to be educated (so they can watch X Factor I have no doubt) when this is exactly what they do need and what their more enlightened forefathers fought and died for.

And I think it might shortly be the time for the last leaving the UK truely to turn off the light.

Austin Tassletine, South West, UK

Winston Smith. Hear,hear.

The Assistant Chief Constable attributing blame to the "drinking culture of today" is typical of the Leftie 'cotton wool brigade' and their continued denial that a great many of the woes afflicting British society are a direct consequence of their social experimentation..

Chris, Worcester,

It's more than a drinking culture that causes this. A whole cluster of causes from moral relativism, misguided liberal-libertarianism and cynical exploitation by business of popular "culture"
We have dysfunctional families and separate TV channels for youth and sociologists and psychologists making excuses for non-judgmentalism. We have an educational system that fails many and a government that is floundering in a see of muddled social reforms.

william shepherd, zoeterwoude, NL

No doubt we will soon hear from Gordon Brown that he, personally, will ensure this never happens again.
Tragically, it will.

Barry Samways, London, UK

Call them "lads", call them "thugs", call them "youths". It doesn´t matter. What matters is that they will be, in 20 years or so, middle-aged moronic wastrels. Those that Britain is producing so effectively. They will themselves have children, who will, taking the example of their cruel, indifferent, unenlightened parents be, by even the standards of today, utterly and unspeakably vicious, callous, useless members of what is left of society in the UK in the very near future. Peaceful, thoughtful, law-abiding citizens such as Mrs. Newlove and family will be in a callowed minority.

Britain will fail and fall. My sincerely heartfelt condolences to a brave family, to Mr. Newlove for standing up for what he believed to be right, only to lose his life so senselessly at the hands of such senseless, brutal and mindless parents of tomorrows Britain.

winston smith, hamburg, germany