Local Government Association chair, Sir Merrick Cockell, has called on Whitehall departments to support the DCLG's plan to tackle ‘problem families' through a bespoke government unit.

Mr Cockell said it was incumbent on departments beyond Eland House to support communities secretary Eric Pickles' and victims' commissioner Louise Casey's campaign to target the 120,000 families dubbed regular community nuisances by prime minister, David Cameron.