This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/8223922.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Parents meet Straw over violence Parents meet Straw over violence
(about 9 hours later)
The parents of a Kent teenager kicked and punched to death have met the Justice Secretary for a second time to call for tougher prison sentences. The parents of a Kent teenager kicked and punched to death have met the justice secretary for a second time to call for tougher prison sentences.
Michael Chapman, 16, died after he was assaulted on school playing fields in Sittingbourne in June 2006. Lee Cowie, 19, was convicted of manslaughter.Michael Chapman, 16, died after he was assaulted on school playing fields in Sittingbourne in June 2006. Lee Cowie, 19, was convicted of manslaughter.
His parents, Lloyd and Sue Chapman, told Jack Straw sentences for attacks on young people were too lenient.His parents, Lloyd and Sue Chapman, told Jack Straw sentences for attacks on young people were too lenient.
Mr Straw agreed they had to be tougher and more places were being created. Mr Straw said they must be tougher and more prison places were being created.
He said: "The prison population today at 84,212 is a record and it's rising week by week. It's gone up 25,000 in the last 12 years.He said: "The prison population today at 84,212 is a record and it's rising week by week. It's gone up 25,000 in the last 12 years.
Each and every day we hear of new stabbings and shootings, and just general violence, and it's got to stop Lloyd Chapman, victim's fatherEach and every day we hear of new stabbings and shootings, and just general violence, and it's got to stop Lloyd Chapman, victim's father
"There are further real plans for more prison places but you can't magic them out of the air."There are further real plans for more prison places but you can't magic them out of the air.
"I believe that we have got to be tougher but meanwhile there are people like the Chapman family who are severe victims of wholly unjustified homicide. ""I believe that we have got to be tougher but meanwhile there are people like the Chapman family who are severe victims of wholly unjustified homicide. "
Mr and Mrs Chapman launched the campaign Protect Our Children Against Violence following Michael's death.Mr and Mrs Chapman launched the campaign Protect Our Children Against Violence following Michael's death.
Michael father, Lloyd, said the campaign was "not now just about Michael but about everyone nationwide". Mr Chapman said the campaign was "not now just about Michael but about everyone nationwide".
"Each and every day we hear of new stabbings and shootings, and just general violence, and it's got to stop," he said."Each and every day we hear of new stabbings and shootings, and just general violence, and it's got to stop," he said.
"It's really up to the government now to implement the sentencing to be more strict and to ensure that criminals actually do the time that they're sentenced to.""It's really up to the government now to implement the sentencing to be more strict and to ensure that criminals actually do the time that they're sentenced to."
Mr Chapman said he also wanted more support to be put in place for the families of victims.Mr Chapman said he also wanted more support to be put in place for the families of victims.
'Moral fibre''Moral fibre'
BBC South East reporter Sara Smith, who travelled with the family to London on Thursday, said the family were very pleased with the meeting with the Justice Secretary. BBC South East reporter Sara Smith, who travelled with the family to London on Thursday, said they were very pleased with the meeting with the justice secretary.
She added: "He told them that he supported their charity's aim and he would even look to see if there was any government funding to help them with that and also that more was being done to involve victims and their families in the criminal justice system in general.She added: "He told them that he supported their charity's aim and he would even look to see if there was any government funding to help them with that and also that more was being done to involve victims and their families in the criminal justice system in general.
"In the end both parties agreed that it wasn't just down to the government, it was down to society as a whole to cope with what Jack Straw described as a lack of a 'lack of moral fibre in some families' which lead to such dysfunctional behaviour.""In the end both parties agreed that it wasn't just down to the government, it was down to society as a whole to cope with what Jack Straw described as a lack of a 'lack of moral fibre in some families' which lead to such dysfunctional behaviour."
Michael's former friend Lee Cowie, 19, was sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institution in May 2007 after pleading guilty to manslaughter, but he was freed in June 2008.Michael's former friend Lee Cowie, 19, was sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institution in May 2007 after pleading guilty to manslaughter, but he was freed in June 2008.