YES - Alison Dean, youth work development adviser, YMCA England
YMCA England is very opposed to curfews for young people of any age. We are concerned that youngsters who are moved on by police when walking home from their youth club in a group of friends could develop a negative image of the police service. Our youth work focuses on youth participation and decision-making, therefore we welcome opportunities for young people to work with the police and contribute their ideas on how to best control potential antisocial behaviour.
NO - Home Office spokeswoman
A local child curfew scheme has a dual purpose: to protect the local community from the distress caused by groups of young people involved in antisocial behaviour at night and to protect children and young people from risks of being unaccompanied on the streets late at night.The scheme gives police clear powers to take any child found in breach of a local child curfew and who they believe to be at risk home to their parents. There is no criminal penalty; it is designed solely to protect children and reduce the risk of them offending or behaving antisocially.
YES - Lionel Skingley, senior policy and information officer for crime reduction charity Nacro
Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 allows the police to disperse two or more young people following acts of intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress and remove unaccompanied children under the age of 16 to a place of safety. It's easy to imagine a situation where a curfew could breach a young person's rights. They could be stopped from carrying out some lawful pursuit, despite having committed no crime or act of antisocial behaviour.
YES - Jan Leightley, director of children's services, NCH Cymru & Northern Ireland
Curfews are seen as a quick fix, and lots of adults are only too pleased to see young people off the streets. We have great sympathy for victims of antisocial behaviour, but curfews affect all those under 16, not just those who cause trouble. No-one would dream of restricting adults' rights this way, because of the behaviour of a minority. Lasting solutions need a multi-agency and community approach, dialogue with young people, and facilities that are young-person friendly.
