Public should 'confront disorder'

Ordinary people take risks every day, says Mr Craik

Members of the public should stand up to anti-social behaviour, despite the risks, according to Northumbria Police's chief constable.

Mike Craik said ordinary people should challenge rowdy behaviour such as drinking or swearing.

Society would be improved if people looked out for each other, he added.

But John Johnson, whose son Kevin was stabbed to death after confronting three youths in Sunderland, said it is the police's job to tackle disorder.

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Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, Mr Craik said: "I know that people will perceive an element of risk, but there is risk in everything we do for ourselves every day.

"We all get in the car every morning and one or two of us are going to die.

"I just think the world would be a better place if we were all prepared every now and again - once in a blue moon - just to protect one another."

Tougher sentences

However, police should be called if a situation becomes threatening, he stressed.

Kevin Johnson, 22, was stabbed outside his Pennywell home last May after he challenged teenagers Dean Curtis, 19, 17-year-old Tony Hawkes and Jordan Towers, 16.

His father John, who has since called for tougher sentences for knife crime, claims the risk is too great for ordinary people.

He said: "My son went out and confronted three youths who were being rowdy and he ended up losing his life."