PADDICK CLAIMS PARENTS ARE TO BLAME FOR CRIME

BRIAN PADDICK, the police commander who ordered his officers to stop
arrests for minor cannabis offences, blamed parents and video games for
rising youth crime.

In an online interview with The Times yesterday he accused parents of
encouraging their children to join gangs that were intent on theft and
violence by failing to take discipline at home seriously.

He said parents were failing to face up to their duties by ignoring signs
that their children were getting involved with juvenile crime.

He blamed violent computer games for creating a "make-believe" world in
which the victim got up after being shot or knocked down, which had the
effect of convincing young people that their actions had no consequences.

Mr Paddick went on to accuse teachers of failing in their responsibility to
find ways of "engaging" children so that they study for exams.

His comments are likely to further polarise public opinion over the officer
who, while in charge of policing Lambeth in South London, introduced a
policy whereby people found in possession of small amounts of cannabis were
not arrested. He caused more controversy by appearing to back anarchists
with statements on an Internet website.

Last week he was removed from his role as commander in Lambeth and put on
duties within Scotland Yard after a Sunday newspaper alleged that he had
taken drugs with his gay former lover and allowed cannabis smoking to take
place at his home. He denies the allegations.

Senior officers at Scotland Yard indicated yesterday that they regard Mr
Paddick's remarks as comments on personal issues which do not infringe the
investigation into allegations made by his former boyfriend over cannabis use.

Mr Paddick has kept senior officers at Scotland Yard informed of every
public statement he has made, including an interview he gave to a national
newspaper earlier this week. He told Scotland Yard that he would attend a
protest meeting at Brixton on Tuesday night and yesterday he sent their
press department details of his answers to The Times's questions.

In yesterday's interview he refused to comment on the drugs allegations as
they are subject to an inquiry, and instead turned on parents.

Responding to a question about rising crime by youths he said: "Some
parents are failing to take responsibility for the conduct of their children. "

"They are not asking where their children have been, allowing them to be
out late at night and not asking how they can afford the designer clothes
they are wearing or asking why they have five mobile phones in their bedrooms."

He added: "Computer games and the like create a make-believe world where
some young people think that violence has little or no effect on their
victims."

"In computer games you press the reset button and the 'victim' gets up and
carries on. . . . Young people must be taught that there are real and
damaging consequences for the victims of violence as well as for the
perpetrators."

Mr Paddick went on to suggest that he was the victim of a homophobic media
witchhunt and defended his cannabis policy which, he said, had succeeded in
reducing crime by allowing officers to concentrate on more serious offences.

Earlier, he told Radio 4's Today programme that he "desperately" wanted to
get back to work in Lambeth. However, he said the media attention may make
it impossible.

On Tuesday night he received a standing ovation and a message of support
from Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, at a meeting held to demand his
reinstatement.

Read Brian Paddick's online Q&A with Times readers: at
www.timesonline.co.uk/talkingpoint" www.timesonline.co.uk/talkingpoint