Teenagers with knives may have to visit victims in hospital

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The children's secretary, Ed Balls suggests: "It will ensure that everyone knows that a teacher's authority in the classroom is unquestionable and teachers are clear about their right to use them."

Jaqui Smith told Sky TV yesturday: "I'm very keen we make people face up to the consequences of their actions," following her announcements that she wants teenagers arrested for carrying knives should be forced to confront the consequences of fights by visiting hospital wards and prisons, "It's a practical and tough approach to make young people understand the implications of carrying a knife."

Smith's actions were condemned by Tory spokesman Dominic Grieve, who warned that voters were "sick and tired" of "ill-thought-through, piecemeal announcements and failed initiatives". "Not only would we have tough policing to tackle knife crime on our streets now, but under our plans people convicted of knife crime would automatically face the presumption of jail," he said.

The Lib Dem spokesman, Chris Huhne, called the hospital visit plan a "half-baked" response from a minister who was denying a problem existed barely a month ago.