Helen Newlove, whose husband was kicked to death by a gang of youths outside his Warrington home, said: "This is not a PlayStation game scenario. This is reality."

Mrs Newlove was sharing a platform with Tory leader David Cameron at a central London summit on Strengthening Families.

She rounded on the modern-day yob culture, hoodies who are allowed to glamorise violence while hiding their faces on television and the break-down of social values including lack of respect and families who do not do their job properly.

Mr Cameron emphasised the importance of improved policing and tougher sentences for violent offenders. He said there is also a need to address the causes of crime, including looking at families and schools.

He said: "We need to build stronger families and more responsible communities, so that kids grow up knowing the difference between right and wrong.

"Most important of all, parents need to take the responsibility of parenthood seriously.

"That is a harder and longer task than sorting out the criminal justice system. It is a task for a generation."

She feels that speaking out about the state of society and her own painful personal experience is now her only option to try and make a difference.

Mrs Newlove said: "I am now a single parent through no choice of my own and I have to fight for my children."