Isn't youth crime falling? The number of 10 (the age of criminal responsibility) to 20-year-olds being processed for offences has reduced by a quarter over the past 10 years. The number of violent offences has remained fairly stable over the same period of time. And the latest British Crime Survey indicates that the general public's fear of crime and anti-social behaviour may be falling as well.
So why do we need further measures to deal with violent crime? There is some unfinished business - how do we tackle binge drinking and links between public disorder, crime and alcohol consumption? Also, in a number of surveys, young people themselves have expressed increasing concern about violence and coming into contact with dangerous weapons.
What will this new piece of legislation achieve? It's intended to protect children and adults from violent crime by dealing with some particular flash points: the first being alcohol-related violence and disorder, and the second the possession and use of weapons.
How? A mixture of prevention and prohibition. The alcohol measures are mostly about behaviour. The Violent Crime Reduction Bill introduces drinking banning orders, which will be available for people aged 16 or over. Essentially, these orders impose conditions on a person to protect others from their alcohol-fuelled disorderly behaviour. And, like anti-social behaviour orders, if the person breaches the order, they are guilty of an offence and can be required to pay a fine of up to 2,500, or end up in prison.
Isn't underage drinking illegal? No - it is illegal to sell it to under-18s, and to buy it, or drink it in public places if you're under 18. This Bill strengthens that by bringing in fines of up to 10,000 for those who persistently sell alcohol to children, or in extreme cases a power to close down the premises.
The Bill also introduces powers to designate alcohol disorder zones. Again, these resemble other anti-social behaviour measures by enabling police to move on people aged 16 and over from the named areas. A zone can also be a bus or other means of public transport.
What about guns and knives? The Bill introduces a range of offences that will affect adults and children. For example, using someone to look after, hide or transport a dangerous weapon - especially someone under 18 - could lead to a four-year prison sentence if the weapon is a knife, or up to 10 years if the weapon is a firearm. The Bill also raises the age for buying knives from 16 to 18.
And schools can search pupils for weapons? Clause 35 gives headteachers or an authorised member of staff this power, but there are restrictions attached. Searching must take place when the pupil is on the premises of the school, or if elsewhere, where the staff member has lawful control or charge of the pupil. The person searching the pupil must be the same sex as the pupil, and the search must be carried out in the presence of another adult of the same sex. No clothes can be removed apart from outer coat, hat, jacket and gloves. The Bill also allows for possessions to be searched in the presence of the pupil, the use of reasonable force, and the seizure of any weapons.
FACT BOX
- In 2003, 61 per cent of crimes committed by young people under the age of 18 were for theft and other property offences, and less then 17 per cent were classed as violent offences (Nacro briefing)
- British adolescents are among the heaviest drinkers in Europe, with up to 27 per cent having had a drink over the past week - those who are drinking have on average doubled their consumption over the past 10 years (Strategy Unit Interim Analytical Report, 2003)
- The Bill and explanatory notes can be found at www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ cm200506/cmbills/010/2006010.htm.
