TORY leader David Cameron has called for the introduction of a form of national service to tackle yob culture in the wake of the murder of Garry Newlove.

The Conservative leader said Helen Newlove, widow of the father of three kicked to death by a gang of teenagers, “spoke for millions” when she said Britain’s streets had been taken over by violent youths.

He said that legislation was not enough, and a change in society was needed to tackle the problem.

In an emotional statement after her husband’s killers were convicted earlier this week, Mrs Newlove pleaded for more to be done to stop youth gangs going on violent, drink-fuelled rampages against law-abiding people.

Mr Cameron said: “Mrs Newlove spoke for millions when she said that in too many parts of the country, the streets have been taken over by the thugs and society has retreated.

“Passing a new law is not enough. We need a big social, cultural and political change about our whole approach to these issues.” He said returning police to the streets and improving discipline in schools were important.

“It’s also about a return to a form of national service, what I call national citizens’ service, something that every 16-year-old should do to learn about their duties and responsibilities as a citizen and inspire them as being part of our country instead of being people who hang round on street corners,” he said.

The Tory leader envisaged 16- year-olds undertaking a six-week residential programme in which they would mix with people from different backgrounds.

Training with the Army could form part of the scheme, Mr Cameron said, but he did not favour a return to traditional national service.

He added that more also needed to be done to enforce the existing law on the sale of alcohol, and urged people to report shops that sold to under age drinkers.

Adam Swellings, 19, from Crewe; Stephen Sorton, 17, of Warrington; and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, formerly of Warrington, were convicted at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday of murdering 47- year-old Mr Newlove outside his Warrington home last August after he confronted a gang of drunken teenagers over acts of vandalism.

Swellings was on bail at the time of the attack.

The chief constable of Cheshire, the county where Mr Newlove lived, has courted controversy by urging people to challenge yobs in their communities.

Peter Fahy said: “I personally think we cannot have a society where law-abiding people like Garry Newlove cannot go out and challenge people that are damaging their property, otherwise we’ll just have the yobs ruling the streets.

“People should go out and certainly confront, that’s my own personal view.”

Mr Fahy’s view is at odds with general police advice to leave tackling thugs and criminals to them.

Despite this, it met with cautious approval from campaigners.

Dee Edwards, co-founder of Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, said: “I don’t think he’s being irresponsible because he has said it’s a personal view.”

But she added: “That may be his personal view But you don’t know whether people are carrying guns and weapons. In an ideal world, you should be able to go and challenge people, but we don’t live in an ideal world.

“Garry’s widow said people should take responsibility for their children and they absolutely should.”

The Government has pledged to learn lessons from the murder of Mr Newlove, as MPs from all parties have demanded an urgent debate on bail conditions for violent criminals.

Warrington North Labour MP Helen Jones called for a Commons debate on bail conditions and has written to the Attorney General demanding an inquiry into why Swellings was set free.

Commons Leader Harriet Harman said she would raise the matter with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were cleared of Mr Newlove’s murder.