People living in deprived areas are more likely to hold negative viewsabout children and young people, according a study of attitudes to youngpeople and youth crime in Scotland.
There was a widespread perception that youth crime is on the increase,despite evidence to the contrary. Public Attitudes Towards Young Peopleand Youth Crime in Scotland revealed that 69 per cent of adults surveyedthought the amount of crime committed by young people was higher than adecade ago, with just two per cent thinking it was lower.
Around one in six adults, 16 per cent, said they knew most of the 11- to15-year-olds in their area well enough to speak to them, but 44 per centof adults said they knew none of the 11- to 15-year-olds in theirarea.
Those with more contact with children were more likely to frame problemsin their communities in a positive way, as a "lack of opportunities forchildren and young people" - cited by 37 per cent of adults, rather than"young people hanging around the streets" - cited by 39 per cent.Alcohol, drugs, crime and vandalism were also high on the agenda. Justover half of adults thought it "not very" or "not at all" likely thatthey would challenge young people they recognised if they were damagingpublic property.
"A lot of the questions were linked to crime. Fear and experience ofcrime is greater in deprived areas," says report co-author CatherineBromley. "This also says a lot about the opportunities there are foryoung people in those areas."
And contrary to stereotypes, those aged over 65 were less negative aboutyoung people than those aged 18 to 24.
FACT BOX
- Half of respondents cited lack of discipline at home as causingoffending behaviour
- Forty-two per cent of adults thought media portrayal of young peoplewas fair, 38 per cent unfair
- Public Attitudes Towards Young People and Youth Crime in Scotland -Findings From the 2004 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey can bedownloaded at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/55971/0015628.pdf.
