The Antigua and Barbuda government is moving to review existing laws dealing with parental responsibility as part of efforts to address youth crime and antisocial behaviour.
The Attorney General’s department has been tasked with examining the legislation to determine what provisions already exist to hold parents accountable for the conduct of their children and how those provisions can be effectively enforced by police.
The review comes as the government places greater emphasis on the role of parents and families in preventing young people from becoming involved in criminal activity.
Officials have argued that law enforcement alone cannot address the problem and that parents must take greater responsibility for supervising and guiding their children.
The review is expected to clarify the powers available to authorities and whether changes to existing legislation are needed to strengthen parental accountability.
