Young people urged to send message to government on planned bad behaviour laws

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.