The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a major think-tank, has proposed cutting parents' benefits or evicting them from social housing if their children are involved in anti-social behaviour, following an outbreak of violence in Middlesbrough. Disorder erupted last week after a car crash on the A66 killed five youths and two police officers, prompting the deployment of more than 200 officers and leading to widespread arrests linked to a wider organised crime feud. The proposal has reignited debate over how to tackle youth-driven disorder and the responsibility of parents.

The CSJ points to rising anti-social behaviour since Labour took power, with 41 per cent of adults reporting experiencing or witnessing disorder last year, up from 35 per cent in 2024. Alongside the Middlesbrough incident, this data underpins the think-tank's call for tougher measures targeting families of children who cause trouble for neighbours. The Daily Mail is inviting readers to vote on whether parents should have benefits docked over their children's misbehaviour, while also revealing that in the previous day's poll on Kemi Badenoch's reshuffle, 59 per cent of over 5,000 voters said the Conservatives were ready for a general election.