The Government has announced that it is to press on with its policy of introducing parental compensation orders (PCOs), which will allow the victims of property damage inflicted by children to claim up to £5,000 in compensation from the parents of the children responsible.
The Home Office guidance on PCOs stresses that the orders will have to take into account the means of the parents when setting compensation levels.
It is also considered that the willingness of parents in such circumstances to undertake parenting classes and of the child to write an apology could be mitigating factors in determining the level of compensation payable.
Initially, a pilot scheme to test the efficacy of the measures will be launched in ten areas throughout the UK. If the scheme proves effective, it will then be rolled out nationwide.
