Send in the Army: Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt wants troops on the streets to tackle knife crime - by mentoring youths and convincing them to sign up for military college Defence Secretary told conference she wants to 'do more on social mobility' She said that the Army's 'ethos' could make a 'real difference' to young people Cross-government summit examined how military can work with communities By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 01:28 BST, 5 June 2019 | Updated: 08:48 BST, 5 June 2019 12 shares Viewcomments Penny Mordaunt (pictured) has suggested that soldiers could help mentor troubled youths Troops could be used to help mentor youngsters to tackle the scourge of rising knife crime in Britain. Penny Mordaunt is holding a cross-Government summit to examine how the Army can work with communities to stamp out gang culture by taking youngsters off the streets. The Defence Secretary yesterday told a central London conference she wanted to ‘do more on social mobility’. She said: ‘At a time of rising knife crime and prevalent gang culture in some parts of the UK, the Army’s ethos can make a real difference to young people. It can offer hope.’ She said options include tasking soldiers with mentoring youngsters or attracting teenagers to military preparation colleges. She added that she was struck by how these colleges had ‘enthused those who other education establishments fail to inspire’. Soldiers could be recruited to help youngsters stay away from knife crime, the Defence Secretary says (pictured, British troops in Estonia this year) Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility