The Rise of the Yobbocracy - well hard Gubment at work

Over 100 special zones are identified as part of a summer-time zero-tolerance crackdown against drug-taking, underage drinking and alcohol-related violence in cities throughout England. Curfews will be imposed, allowing police to clear groups of youths from the street after 9pm.

An Independent on Sunday investigation reveals that police are rushing to apply for special licences, which ban troublemakers from specific areas with the threat of fines of £2,500 or a prison sentence for anyone breaking the curfew.

A third of these zones will be in London with others in Manchester and Liverpool. Bristol will have 10 zones in place this summer and Liverpool more than 20.

The anti-yob action follows violent incidents involving teenage gangs including the so-called "happy slapping" craze.

Ministers unveiled their legislative blueprint to curb violent crime and disorder last week. This included banning drunken youths from pubs and bars for up to two years, closing down pubs and shops caught selling alcohol to children and new penalties on the use and sales of knives and guns.

It is understood ministers are also planning a major U-turn on teenage-friendly proposals to provide more leisure opportunities and outlets where they can socialise in the evenings. The Youth Green Paper, due for publication later this year, will be edited reflecting Government's claimed tough stance on yob-related behaviour and emphasises the need for "respect" among young people.

Reform groups warn that the new "anti-yobbery" measures, including dispersal orders, are unworkable and draconian and will lead to the jailing of increasing numbers of young people.

Rob Allen, a member of the Youth Justice Board, said that dispersal orders were not a solution. "All you end up doing is displacing the problem," said Mr Allen, director of International Centre for Prison Studies at King's College London."The danger is that all these measures end up as a fast track into custody."

International Centre for Prison Studies - Prison is never appropriate for children

Professor Andrew Coyle, the director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, 10th August 2004 said that prison "is never an appropriate location" for children.

He said: "There are more juveniles in prison custody in England and Wales than in any other country in Western Europe. The treatment of juveniles in detention in England and Wales has been criticised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which has expressed concern about the number of children who have sustained injuries as a result of restraints and measures of control applied in prison and about the placement of children in solitary confinement in prisons. Prison is never an appropriate location for children."

Nacro - We have an over-punitive approach to children in trouble

Paul Cavadino, chief executive of the crime reduction charity Nacro, also said (on the same day) that the death in custody of 14-year-old Adam Rickwood signalled that "some of the most vulnerable children in society are currently being held in state custody."

He added: "We call on the Government to set up an urgent review of the system for dealing with children who offend. We have an over-punitive approach to children in trouble and pay too little attention to the welfare needs of serious and persistent young offenders and the root causes of their problems. 27 children have died in state custody since 1990. The Government must act now if lessons are to be learnt and further deaths prevented."

Interfering old busybodies .....what do they know ? Of course we can just ignore them......