A TOP Councillor has suggested that the return of National Service could help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the district.

A violent assault in City Park last month led to a discussion about crime in district at a full Council meeting on Tuesday evening.

And during the debate Conservative Leader John Pennington said a return of National Service could improve the behaviour of Bradford's young people.

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Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe had put forward a motion calling for more to be done to tackle youth crime in the district. She referred to the video - which showed a gang of boys pushing down and kicking another boy in City Park's mirror pool.

She pointed out that the video had been viewed by people across the world. She said: "The incident left us all in shock and made us question how this could happen in our city centre - a space we all own. The video went around the world and got millions of views. This is not what our city stands for."

She said youth crime was rising around the country, and that austerity and cuts to policing had a part to play. And cuts to government funding for local authorities meant 64 per cent of Council fund were now allocated to children and adult social care.

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Call for town centre 'summits' to tackle violence and anti-social behaviour Suggestions in her motion included holding "town centre summit meetings" to find the best way to tackle anti social behaviour, and calling for more partnership working.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) questioned how some young people had got to the point in their lives where they thought such behaviour was acceptable. She said: "There was clearly public outrage, but little comment about how we got here. What is happening to some young people in our district that leads to this behaviour? We need to make the district a good place for young people to grow up."

She said young people's needs were being ignored by much of society, adding: "I can find reference to strategies for habitats for bats, but I can't find one for how to make the best habitat for a child. We have to give them the opportunity to thrive."

In response to claims such behaviour was down to austerity, Cllr Pennington said: "All this rot started many years before austerity.

"These offenders shouldn't be sent to prison where they will be further criminalised. We should re-introduce national service. It taught young people discipline and provided training for a future career."

The Labour motion was then approved.