And the law is not on the side of skateboarders. Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows councils to draw up bylaws that make skateboarding in public spaces a criminal offence. Skateboarders who ignore bylaws could find themselves with a police record showing criminal damage, trespassing or vandalism.
To some extent, the introduction of bylaws makes street skating more attractive to rebellious teenagers. But the majority of skateboarders are fed up with not having a safe place of their own to skate. This has prompted skateboarders to lobby councils for skateparks and even work with them.
Martin is part of the Edinburgh Skatepark Project, a group working with Edinburgh City Council to create facilities for skaters. This stemmed from a survey of almost 5,000 young people in the city that identified the need for a skatepark in the city.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
