A coalition of children’s charities called for the government to change plans for antisocial behaviour rules after research revealed the proposals could lead to tension between young people and the police, writes Kendra Inman.
The Antisocial Behaviour Bill includes proposals for new police
powers to disperse groups of two or more children under 16 and for
the introduction of fast-track curfews.
Four out of five young people interviewed for an NOP poll,
commissioned by 13 charities, said plans for new police powers to
move them on for no reason could lead to clashes.
The charities, including The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, NCH, The National Youth Agency and National Children’s Bureau said an amendment to the bill would ensure local communities, including children, are consulted before action is taken.
Seventy per cent of 10-16 year-olds interviewed for the poll said police should not have the powers to move them on if they haven’t done anything wrong. Four out of five said curfews were unfair because not all young people cause problems.
Children’s Society chief executive Bob Reitemeier called the plans discriminatory and predicted they would damage relations between young people and adults. He said ministers planned to restrict the freedom of young people without asking them what they think. Yet 90 per cent of those questioned said they should have their say before the laws get the go ahead.
Graham Duffy, aged 16, said most young people, “don’t hang out because they want to cause trouble - they do so because there is little else for them to do”.
He added: “The police in my town are already moving young people away from local ‘hangouts’, but they only end up further down the town in even larger numbers or go to quieter places which are less safe.”
