Abusive teenagers should lose their right to stay at home says poll

Most people think parents are justified in expelling their
teenage children from the family home if they commit a crime or
become abusive, according to a poll for the charity NCH. 55 per
cent of respondents said  young people should lose the right to
stay in the family home if they became involved in crime. Seven out
of ten said they should go if they became violent or abusive, and
just under half (48 per cent) if they were using drugs. One in
eight said parents would be justified in rejecting  a girl who
became pregnant, and a third thought a teenager who failed to
contribute to the household income should be thrown out.

A separate study by the charity of users of its own projects
found that parents generally had a strong commitment to their
teenagers but often didn’t know how to cope. They are often
reluctant to discuss their children’s behaviour and
don’t go to professionals for help because of the stigma
attached and the fear that things would be taken completely out of
their hands.

The charity is calling for more understanding of the problems
some parents are facing and better access to support services for
families with teenagers. It has produced an advice and information,
available at www.nch.org.uk/endofmytether 
or by calling 08457 626579.