I am not an expert in this field, but have a few observations I would like to contribute to this bold new initiative:

In my opinion, a Liberal approach would also look at this problem from an holistic perspective, focussing on some of the causes rather than the symptoms, thus addressing the yobs' living environment:

1. Health and Food. If 'we are what we eat', what are the yobs eating? Is it generally high fat, high sugar, processed foods with lots of artificial ingredients (and no fruit or vegetables)? Or is the diet generally a balanced organic healthy one with no added chemicals or colours? If parents are too poor to provide the latter, or don’t have time or inclination to do so, inner city councils and or churches/charities could host soup kitchens (call them lunch clubs.. whatever) offering a healthy meal to local youth.

2. Mentoring. What are the opportunities and possibilities for mentoring and coaching young people to achieve projects in their local communities? Consult those who have benefited from the Prince of Wales’ Trust to see how they themselves suggest mentoring more youth within areas of neglect/deprivation, and what new initiatives would be needed (eg create a new position as a Prince of Wales’ warden in many inner cities) to support youth in making a difference in their community. Linked to this could be the provision of some parenting courses to support parents who have issues with their youth. Many parents with wayward youths need mentoring and support too to reinforce their own parental responsibility.

3. Environment. Global Action Plan UK has been doing interesting work in creating the concept of "eco-teams", empowering and inspiring citizens to “own” their communal apartment blocks in inner cities, and start communal organic gardens, and local time bank initiatives. This concept has been applied in various cities across Europe, and I would suggest drawing on it, and replicating it further to invigorate inner city communities, particularly where there are different ethnic minorities.

Focussing on some of the above would address some of the problems of our youth culture in a liberal way.

I'm sure all three of the things mentioned above are factors that need to be tackled. Indeed, one speaker from the floor the other week came from an organisation called the Save the World Club, which appeared to be doing some particularly interesting work around environment and behaviour.

However, I think you're a long way from identifying a root cause. As a social liberal who switches between agnosticism and atheism I worry about Frank Field's prescriptions involving family and faith - but I do find the argument that many young people are brought up in a brutalised world without care or love very compelling.

Your three points are certainly valid - but if we could identify and tackle the more deep seated causes I suspect health, community spirit and environment would also snap easier back into place.