Willoughby attacks plans for child curfews

12.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Dec 2000

Cllr Laura Willoughby, one if Islington's youngest Councillors, has condemned the Governments Proposals for night-time curfews for children under 16. The proposal, which is expected to be announced in today's queens speech, is aimed at keeping children off the streets between 9pm and 6am. Commenting Cllr Willoughby said: "This proposals are draconian. Not only does it treat every young person as a potential criminal if they are out after 9pm; it will also drive away young people from visible areas where we can send youth workers and other specialist staff to work with them. "Young people do not socialise with young people within their age band and it will be hard for officers to tell between a 16 and 17 year old. There are far better uses of resources to deal with youth crime, including evening social space, youth workers and other activities. "This policy will do nothing to help the distrust between young people and the police and will make young people feel unwelcome in the areas that that live." Doubts have also been cast over how practical the scheme is. In addition to shortages of Police, there are many other serious tactical complications as well. Crime and misbehaviour by young people has no simple causes and no easy solutions. A pilot scheme for curfews aimed at children under 10 was in introduced in Scotland but it has not been enforced. Police and local authorities gave up on the scheme because they said it was hard to differentiate among age groups. It is understood that the system would work by relying on the police and local authorities to specifically request a curfew in a particular area. &nbsp