MANSFIELD mayor Tony Egginton has called for unruly young people to spend time learning discipline in the Army instead of being given anti-social behaviour orders.
He will write to Government ministers to suggest the move after seeing the Mercian Regiment marching in the town centre last week.
- VIDEO: Mercian troops get a heroes welcome in Mansfield
Mr Egginton told Chad: "I felt extremely proud when they came into the Market Place and they are such exemplary young people doing such a good job.
"It just struck me after speaking to the soldiers that all these kids who have got problems that we keep throwing money at – maybe it would be an opportunity for them to gain that civic pride, respect and discipline?
"Maybe this is the right time to revisit it. Let's do something a bit different — they can have three or four months of discipline and come out different children altogether. It is worth having a pilot scheme."
The mayor also called for school pupils to be given half a day off to attend home-coming parades so they understand what soldiers do for the country.
Mr Egginton said: "We have lost two generations of understanding about what the troops do on our behalf and the contribution they make. The least we can do is ma
