A Northern Ireland minister is to be given special responsibility for heading a crack-down on joyriding in the province, it was announced today.
More than two dozen people have been killed and many more injured, mainly in Belfast, by the teenage craze of joyriding in stolen cars.
The latest victim was Kieran Conlon who was killed recently by a speeding car outside a west Belfast nightspot.
British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has asked the Northern Ireland Office work with a group campaigning against joyriding, Families Bereaved Through Car Crime, after they contacted him, a British government spokesman said.
Mr Blair told the group in a letter last week that a minister would work directly with them and Secretary of State Dr John Reid will meet them soon.
Campaign co-ordinator Mr Tony Holland, who is urging public support for a rally at Belfast City Hall on Saturday, said Mr Blair had pledged his support for their campaign.
Mr Holland said: "We need tougher sentences immediately and a new law.
"Families feel helpless at what's happened and so are pleading with people to come out and support them on Saturday."
The group is currently waiting for a meeting with British Home Secretary David Blunkett in London to discuss the curse of joyriding.
PA