A programme of investment in parenting during pregnancy and the first years of a child's life would pay huge dividends in the prevention of crime and delinquency, according to Prof John Farrington, of the University of Cambridge.
The author of a number of books on criminology, Prof Farrington told the conference that if we wanted to prevent crime we should, as with public health programmes, identify the key risk factors and reduce them.
Family risk factors were poor parental supervision and inconsistent supervision. Numerous studies showed that parent training could be effective in reducing later delinquency.
One study, carried out by Mr David Olds, advised women on bringing up children during their pregnancy and the first year of the child's life. It found that 15 years later the parents had committed less child abuse and offences carried out by the children were reduced by half, compared with a control group. There were even greater reductions among those in the lowest income groups.
He said early intervention also reduced associated problems such as educational and employment difficulties. Day-care and pre-school programmes were also effective.
"It's about improving a person's life chances. The basic problem is selling this to government. They operate on a short time-scale. They're focused on the next election.
"You have to convince them to invest now to reduce the crime rate in 15 years' time. Instead, they invest in things like close-circuit television."