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Children’s charities have rejected Tony Blair’s proposals to cut child benefit from parents of persistent young offenders and children who truant, writes Clare Jerrom.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the idea was at the policy development stage and "under active consideration", adding that it came from the cross-government group looking at street crime,

The scheme would target "out of control" children whose parents are taking no action, the spokesperson confirmed. He added that the government was not frightened to make a controversial decision if it was the right one, but confirmed details of the scheme needed to be worked out

But Save The Children accused the government of not understanding the reality of the lives of children in the UK.

Director general Mike Aaronson said: "Child benefit is exactly what it says it is – it is supposed to provide direct support for children’s welfare – at the end of the day such measures punish no-one but the child."

"By taking away between £16 and 27 a week from families, especially those already struggling on a low income could simply push more children into poverty and simply exacerbate the problems they are facing," he added.

Aaronson urged the government to look at introducing measures to help parents deal with difficult children.

The NSPCC agreed that looking at the causes of truancy would be more helpful than pushing families into greater poverty.

Rehabilitation agency Nacro agreed the idea was likely to make matters worse. Head of youth crime Chris Stanley said: "This measure is not a magic wand to good parenting – parenting skills cannot be fostered by punitive, short term measures."

Last week, education secretary Estelle Morris announced a £66 million package to tackle truancy. The package includes intensive truancy sweeps, an electronic registration system to pick up on truancy more speedily, expanded learning support units and behaviour and education support teams.

Morris announced further this week including police officers being stationed at schools with high truancy and discipline problems, in a bid to curb truancy and street crime.