Straw defends justice system

Speaking to CYP Now, he said: "If young people have been doing somethingwrong we ought to punish them, but we are not just here to punish. Wealso need to reform them and to give them second and third chances."

But Straw also admitted improvements in youth justice were part of along process. He said: "It is about trying to shift the way in whichmainstream education works so it deals more directly with youngsters whoare offending, and the partnership between the departments has beenimportant in improving this."

Last year, the government finally agreed to sign up to the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child, which included a clause to no longerimprison juveniles with adults.