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A coalition of 13 charities has launched a postcard initiative seeking the views of more than 10,000 young people about the government’s planned Antisocial Behaviour Bill, writes Clare Jerrom.

The group, which includes Barnardo’s, The Children’s Society, NCH and National Children’s Bureau, is concerned that the government has failed to consult young people about the proposed legislation.

Pam Hibbert, Barnardo’s principal policy officer, said: “It seems wrong that young people haven’t been consulted about a bill that could affect their lives so much.

“We believe children and young people should have been given a chance to have their say and make suggestions about the Antisocial Behaviour Bill," she said.

The postcards will inform young people about the proposals in the legislation, and encourage those concerned to register their protest against the bill by sending the postcard to the home secretary.

The coalition will announce the results in the autumn to coincide with the report stage of the bill. The initiative is part of the group’s campaign against the bill, and they are calling for urgent changes to the plans after independent legal advice revealed that parts of it could contravene human rights legislation and the Children Act 1989.