British judges advises removing kids from criminal families

A top British judge has suggested that children of hardened criminals should be adopted at birth to save them from a life of crime.

Alan Goldsack QC, the recorder of Sheffield, said drastic action was sometimes needed "because crime runs in families" and that it was "frightening" he was now seeing in his courtroom the grandchildren of criminals he prosecuted or defended 40 years ago, reported Daily Mail.

He suggested that the children of prostitutes, drug addicts or wife-beaters should be taken away earlier, to prevent them from languishing in the care system and turning to a life of crime.

However, the judge has been accused of "criminalising babies" and failing to address why people become criminals.

In an interview to mark his retirement after a 43-year career, Judge Goldsack said: "Some become criminals because they enjoy crime and think it's a good way of life. If they don't get caught, they can have a good lifestyle.

"But a frightening thing is the number of people I see who are the grandchildren of those I prosecuted and defended 40 years ago - because crime runs in families in the same way that being a doctor, teacher or lawyer does.

He said: "We have to ... remove young babies from the families that are going to produce the next generation of criminals."