11:52pm UK, Sunday May 15, 2005

The Government's latest idea to crack down on yobbish behaviour has been condemned as a "nasty gimmick".

Home Office minister Hazel Blears suggested making teenage offenders wear uniforms while carrying out community service, so the public can see justice is being done.

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But the plans were immediately criticised by probation and offenders groups, as well as a human rights lobby group.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: "We thought the election campaign was over but it seems that the cheap and nasty gimmicks continue.

"How do you engender a culture of respect by degrading people?"

Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of Probation Officers, said the idea had been considered before but "was always dropped because there was no evidence that it would work".

Prime Minister Tony Blair said last week he wanted to make restoring "respect" for others a central plank of his third administration.

A Home Office spokesman said the idea was "something we would consider, but it is not a firm policy proposal.

"We want members of the community to have confidence that anti-social behaviour is being tackled."