Gordon Brown will seek to use his last monthly press conference before the long summer recess to defend the government's shock tactics for tackling knife crime, as opposition parties lambast the plans as "half-baked" and "ill-thought through".
With Brown's leadership widely seen to be hanging on the result of the Glasgow East byelection next week, the beleaguered PM is likely to face a tough grilling on his performance as opinion polls continue to put the Conservative party in a clear lead.
Brown is also likely to be quizzed over the diplomatic stalemate on Zimbabwe.
British and US efforts to apply punitive pressure on Robert Mugabe were abruptly undermined on Friday when Russia and China vetoed a UN security council resolution seeking sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Scroll down for latest
11am BST
The prime minister begins by saying the government is toughening the law to punish people "robustly".
He says the government needs to make it "absolutely clear" that carrying knives is not on. With more metal detectors, detection is on the up, and there is now more presumption to prosecute.
Sentences will be "tough, visible and effective". Culprits should also pay back to the community with several hundred hours of voluntary work - the nature of which should be determined by the local community.
He welcomes the report on tackling alcohol and drug abuse and knife crime in schools.
"Let us be clear. If you carry a knife our objective is that you will be caught and punished, but we also want to do everything we can to stop people carrying knives in the first place."
Adam Boulton of Sky News asks the PM whether the automatic presumption should be that anyone carrying a knife should go to jail.
Brown says it is about punishment but also about prevention. He cites the rise in jail terms for those guilty of knife crime, an increase in the use of stop and search powers, and now measures to step up enforcement, including "payback" to the community.
There are also parenting orders to force parents to take more responsibility.This is all part of facing up the causes. His recipe is prevention and enforcement as well as punishment.
11.05am
A BBC reporter raises comments by an accident and emergency doctor earlier today suggesting that the idea of culprits meeting their victims in hospital would be inappropriate.
That is just one of the measures we're looking at, says Brown, to force people to face up to their actions.
He repeats his points about stop and search, metal detectors, and more punishment including tough prison sentences. "It is a combination of enforcement, prevention and punishment."
Andy Bell of Five News asks whether something has broken down in society under Labour's watch. Brown says the stark fact is that crime is down - "but I accept that as long as any young person feels unsafe on the streets, the job remains to be done".
"We have to step up the visibility of our policing and enforcement," he says, before repeating once again his recipe of punishment, enforcement and prevention.
He adds, following a further question, that it is right to expect the government to take tougher action. "One measure in itself is not enough. It is a combination of measures."
11.10am
He is also asked about Zimbabwe and China and Russia's veto of UN sanctions against the Mugabe regime.
Brown said this was hard to justify in light of the situation in Zimbabwe. "That's why I regret what China and Russia did. Russia had supported our sanctions," he says, referring to Russia's change of heart.
He vows to track the wealth and assets held by the Mugabe regime. "I reserve the right to come back to the UN if mediation does not work with a further resolution," he says.
The US and the EU will continue with sanctions and continue to block the sale of arms, he says.
Brown adds that he won't be changing his plans for the Olympic games over Tibet. The Dalai Lama had asked him not to boycott the games and he sees no reason to do so.
11.15am
Another question on knife crime and on the call by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock for a military-service type training for youngsters to give them discipline and focus.
Brown says community punishment is part of his measures on tackling knife crime.
He thinks that's what Hitchcock was suggesting (though the thrust of the police officer's call seemed to be supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds, not punishment).
Brown dismisses the idea of an automatic presumption of jail time for those carrying a knife, as the Tories suggest. Yes, if they commit a crime, but if they are merely carrying one community punishment should be an alternative.
He's pushed again on this. Why not jail anyone carrying a knife longer than three inches?
Brown says he doesn't accept it. There are tough sentences, and the government has made it clear these should be increased, but there should be the option of jail time or community payback.
He points out the latter would be more appropriate for, say, a 14-year-old. There would be the automatic presumption of prosecution, but not prison.
Another related question, this time on curfews for young people - a recommendation expected in a forthcoming select committee report. The powers are already there, says Brown.
Brown is asked whether his refusal to back automatic jail time is due to pressure on prison numbers. Brown retorts that prison places have gone up from 60,000 to 80,000 since 1997 and they are about to go up again.
11.20am
A reporter asks Brown about the arrest of the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir.
The prime minister says it is too early to comment on the outcomes of the ICC deliberations. They have raised with the Sudanese government the need to cooperate with the International Criminal Court.
Back to knife crime. Regarding falling crime rates, does he recognise that knife crime has increased? In his answers so far today, he has failed to mention the word "rehabilitation". And what does he think are the five root causes of knife crime?
11.25am
Brown says the three areas to tackle are knives, guns and gangs. He points to the eight policing hot-spots to tackle the root causes.
There is a ban on those under 18 buying knives ... and then he repeats his list of measures, coupled with today's plans for kids to be seached in school.
"We have to make it unacceptable for youngsters to be seen at night carrying a knife."
He says a campaign to tackle bullying has paid off. The same antipathy now has to be felt about carrying knives.
"I believe that message is starting to get through." It's about saying what is an acceptable boundary ie people should not be carrying knives.
Parents have a primary responsibility to sort this out, he says.
More parenting orders will be in place, he says.
Where there is a family breakdown, the government will step in and propose a contract.
You clean up your life, we will offer you support, he says. It should be more about discipline than permissiveness, he adds.
George Jones from the Press Association news agency asks the PM if the community punishments would be carried out in yellow bibs, or just jeans and T-shirts.
Brown says that what matters is that it's visible, it's tough and there is restriction on a person's liberty.
Three hundred hours over a short period of time, including weekends, would allow the community to see something being done. Yes, prison will often be the right answer, but payback has a place too. Whether in uniform or not is arguable, and has been suggested by the Louise Casey review, he says.
Sam Coates of the Times asks about the forthcoming Labour policy forum with the unions.
Can Brown confirm that there will be no sops to the unions ahead of the meeting.
Brown says Labour is not returning to the 70s or 80s or to secondary picketing. He is continuing with policies that are about a flexible and employment-friendly workplace, he says.
The focus of trade unions as well as the rest of the country is on jobs, and skills. "There will be no return to issues of picketing or secondary action."
11.30am
Has Britain lost its clout on the world stage, Brown is asked by a journalist who lists recent setbacks, not least the failure to secure sanctions against Zimbabwe, and progress on the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
Brown points out efforts achieved so far on literacy, tackling public health such as the widespread distribution of mosquito nets. Britain's campaign to urge countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals is continuing, he says.
On Zimbabwe, he says it was good to see consensus by the G8 countries. Pity about Russia and China vetoing the moves, he adds.
Brown sighs deeply as he braces himself for the next question, which is on withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
He says he can't set an artificial timetable. Britain has four functions in Iraq. One is moving from combat to overwatch (ie training and supply functions). This will require more intensive training of forces in Iraq. Second, it is important to restore full democracy in Basra and there is hope of local elections in November.
Third, Basra is a rich area in terms of resources and Britain is helping draw up an economic plan for the area to give them a stake in the future.
Finally, it's about handing over facilities, such as the airport in Basra. British troops out there are developing a new role, and doing it with distinction, he adds.
11.35am
On the economy, Jon Snow from Channel 4 News asks whether there is going to be a package of relief for those most affected by a downturn in the economy.
Brown says rising fuel and food prices, and the credit crunch, is hitting all countries.
Yes, we will consider further measures. We will do what we can to help hard-pressed households who have seen this global rise in prices.
It is also about working with global partners on issues that transcend domestic boundaries, such as fuel supplies and the credit crunch. It is about helping people and tackling the problems on the global scene.
Robin Oakley from CNN asks about Barack Obama's forthcoming visit to the UK and what he and the prime minister will be discussing. He asks whether Brown will have advice for Obama on handling his first year in office.
Brown says Obama isn't short on policies. We will discuss on what to do on oil prices and medium-term challenges on energy, nuclear power stations, developing countries and trade, the PM says.
Brown says he will also run him through public service reforms in Britain.
Brown is brought back to knife crime and a Radio 1 poll on his anti-knife crime measures, which are given short shrift. One Radio 1 listener described the idea of culprits visiting their victims in hospital as a "freak show".
Brown just repeats all that he said before and concludes that the main message is that it is "unacceptable" to carry a knife. Those who do will be caught and prosecuted and punished.
Andrew Porter from the Daily Telegraph asks about compensation for victims of the near-collapse of Equitable Life.
Brown says shortly that this is a legal question and it's a matter of looking at the judgments made.
11.40am
Brown is asked about nuclear threats and the Iranian government's recent actions. Brown says he is not satisfied that he has had a full answer from Iran and he says flatly that he doesn't rule out sanctions.
A Reuters reporter asks him why he thinks further sanctions will affect Mugabe and why a further attempt to impose UN sanctions would work, since the UN failed to agree such sanctions last week.
On Zimbabwe, Brown says if the talks currently taking place don't work, he will return to the UN calling for further sanctions if mediation does not work. The UN envoy is going ahead and will go to Harare, he says.
A Bloomberg reporter raises the news that the Alliance and Leicester is to be taken over by a Spanish bank, Santander. Brown seems relaxed about this, saying we benefit from having an open economy.
11.45am
A reporter from the Scotsman raises the Glasgow East byelection. Will Brown be visiting Glasgow? Brown says curtly it is not the custom for prime ministers to visit byelections.
Brown is asked about the impact on oil supplies caused by political instability in places such as Nigeria. Brown says where the government can help such nations, it will.
Back to Iran again. Brown says he is happy to make an offer to Iran - a country that says it wants civilian nuclear power. If the agenda is really about something else, the country faces sanctions.
11.50am
Brown is asked by the Gloucestershire Echo about insurance cover for those affected by floods in the face of rising premiums.
Brown says the government is trying to improve protection for households, and to ensure they receive their insurance payments promptly.
Brown is asked if he is sure it is right to go to the Olympics in light of China's recent veto on sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Brown says he doesn't think the veto was defensible or justified, and he hopes to return to the UN on this if necessary.
Onto the embryology bill - which was supposed to be debated in the Commons today but has been moved back, some say to avoid causing upset in Glasgow byelection with a strong Catholic electorate.
Brown is presented with quotes from leading Catholic figures opposing the embryo bill, and asked if he feels these people are trying to influence the byelection.
The PM says he has heard nothing new on the issue since the Commons debated the measure recently.
On the US banking crisis, are there lessons to be learnt from the American response - ie they were a lot quicker than the government was in responding to the run on Northern Rock.
Federal officials took over California mortgage lender IndyMac over the weekend after a run on the bank by depositors, who withdrew over $1.3bn in 11 business days, had left its insurance fund with a $4bn-$8bn deficit.
IndyMac is the second-largest financial institution in US history to close.
Brown says the smooth takeover is a vindication of what the government did with Northern Rock - which was in effect nationalisation.
A question about the domestic economy, and the UK's growth rate in the face of the downturn. Brown says the state of the economy has managed to stave off a recession, but if fuel prices continue to rise, it affects everything else ie travel etc, but this is affecting all countries, he points out. But that is the crucial factor that has changed the economic prospects over the past few months.
Once again back to knife crime, as Brown is lobbed another question. He says the first responsibility is with parents, so family intervention is going to play a part.
He says 110,000 families are identified as being most at risk of their kids getting into trouble, and this is the kind of place where prevention is going to be needed.
"Prevention is a very big part of this. Anyone sitting here would want to help young people avoid getting into trouble in the first place. Over the next three years, those 110,000 families will get the support and supervision they need."
A question from the Daily Record on the Glasgow East byelection.
If Labour loses, isn't Brown's position as leader untenable? Brown says he has a strong candidate in Margaret Curran to fight to keep the seat and he won't comment further. Brown thanks the press and the room disperses.
More politics news, comment and analysis at www.theguardian.com/politics
