YES - Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, south London
Anyone living on estates where there is considerable anti-social behaviour knows much of it is committed by under-16s. People on those estates believe these children and their parents must take responsibility for their actions and this includes the possibility of fines. These fines have been supported by more than 90 per cent of my constituents in every survey I have conducted on this matter.
NO - Shelley Gray, policy officer, Children in Scotland
Children under 16 have no independent source of income and the penalty would fall on parents. This is a superficial measure that is unlikely to change behaviour. More worryingly, it risks penalising those already living in poverty and often debt. Placing this extra financial burden on some of the most vulnerable families will result in worsening debt problems and unnecessary criminalisation through the non-payment of fines for what might have been a very minor offence.
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