NI 'must get after-school money'

PlayBoard in Northern Ireland runs about 200 out-of-school clubs (there are 237 voluntary schemes at present) which are under threat of closure because of a lack of funding. European and lottery money has almost run out and the UK government has not earmarked any specific funding says a BBC report.

Playboard (with 24 full time staff) said NI's voluntary out-of-school sector was now "in real danger of being virtually wiped out".

"It is a cruel irony that Ruth Kelly is announcing expansion of such provision in England, while almost all voluntary out of school clubs here are struggling to survive," said chief executive Marguerite Hunter Blair.
"We urgently need some of that cash."

The government says ( for the 2nd time) it is putting £680m into encouraging more schools in England to set up breakfast and after-school clubs. Closure would mean "parents losing jobs, especially those on low incomes", says Mrs Hunter Blair Chief Executive of Playboard.
"Northern Ireland has the highest rate of child poverty in the UK. Our after school clubs are helping to tackle that problem - so why is the government forcing so many clubs in Northern Ireland to close"?

She also said in the 2004 Playboard Annual report …” I was delighted to attend a reception at 10 Downing Street in September to celebrate Childcare, at the Prime Minister and Cherie Blair’s invitation. This provided me with a wonderful opportunity to lobby at the highest level about the importance of Play and PlayCare in Northern Ireland. Very useful contacts were made with senior Policy Advisors from the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit in Downing Street, who have been very supportive.

SDLP education spokesman Dominic Bradley said the Treasury had plenty of resources to put into education in England while education in Northern Ireland was "being starved of resources".

Northern Ireland education minister, Angela Smith, who is already under intense pressure to find more money for cash-strapped schools - is expected to respond that her cupboard is bare says the Guradian today.

If you want to see the complete Government policy announced by Ruth Kelly (see BBC pic) it can be found here Extended schools prospectus .pdf (462KB)

These are the people who promised you "joined up" Government.

Stop calling them "Yobs" says Chairman of YJB

The government's chief adviser on youth crime has called on politicians and the media to stop calling children 'yobs' and warned that Britain risks demonising a generation of young people.

Professor Rod Morgan is the chairman of the Youth Justice Board, he claims that the Government sends out contradictory messages about its attitude to children. On the one hand, children represented the country's aspirations for the future in sport and music, on the other, they were being condemned by the Prime Minister as thugs in hooded tops.

'We use the word "yob" without distinguishing between very young children - who haven't chosen their parents, their neighbourhoods or their circumstances and can't walk away from them - and young adults,' he said. 'I don't think the word "yob" should ever be used in relation to young children.'

He urged politicians to stop announcing 'quick fix' policies rather than getting to grips with the crisis of youth custody, which has seen a 90 per cent increase in recent years.

Morgan's comments come after seemingly endless Gubment announcements aimed at showing the public that it is 'cracking down' on bad behaviour.

The Youth Justice Board is an independent body ministerial advisory body on young people in the criminal justice system. Morgan, the former chief inspector of probation and an internationally respected expert on crime, is known to be angry that 75% of the £390 million budget is spent on providing custodial places rather than on community sentences or early intervention.

Frank Field thinking what I'm thinking

Frank Field MP gave the Eleanor Rathbone Memorial Lecture at the University of Liverpool on 9 December 2004. He said that the rise of ‘yobbish behaviour’ was due to the failure of an increasing number of families to impart social skills to their children. He said that the government’s policy of driving mothers with young children out to work was one reason for increased levels of anti-social behaviour, and urged that attention be focussed on ‘the pivotal role of motherhood in producing the kind of citizens necessary for a peaceable kingdom’.

“The government sees work as the antidote to many of the social problems inflicted upon us. It does so without ever giving a hint that when and how we work might be a cause of some of the problems themselves.

“At the moment most mothers with young children have to work irrespective of what their emotions and instincts tell them.”

“Most children are best nurtured by one of their parents in the first two years of their lives. While some fathers have the skills to nurture, and while others might acquire such skills by great diligence, the truth is that the nurturing of their young is natural to most women…

“Children…need the active support of two parents and, where possible, grandparents. To state an obvious truth is not to attack those families who do not fit this pattern. It is rather to break into the cycle where our silence acts against what children have a right to expect and what both parents have a duty to meet.”

Words to ponder when listening to Ruth Kelly explaining how the State is nationalising our children. 8am-6pm then home and in in time for curfew at 9.00pm
Childhood ?

Get to know your local Police

Visit the Gwent Police website to see how they inform the public, entertain them, recruit, re-enact the Confederate Army , meet the Paratroopers, and all manner of exciting events, displays and other attractions that they have planned to make the Gwent Police Open Day a fun day out for all the family.

It's over for this year - why don't we do this here ?

Deeply Vale Festival 2006

Planning is well under way. Go to Website to buy tickets NOW

Conference on adolescent binge drinking

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) will host a web-based conference to discuss the significant and growing public health problem of adolescent binge drinking. Adolescents and Binge Drinking: A Clinical Approach, developed under a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, will be held June 14, 2005, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET at Medscape from WebMD.(In most place in the US you have to be 21 to drink alcohol in licensed premises - get killed in Iraq, defending Afghan warlords growing poppies - but don't touch the demon drink boyah!)

The conference will feature an overview of the epidemiology of binge drinking, including identifying use patterns and trends, and the risks associated with this type of substance use. The speakers will explain the biological substrates that make adolescents uniquely susceptible to alcohol and how underage binge drinking can occur independent of alcohol addiction.

Participants of this conference will learn how to ask adolescents about their alcohol use behavior and know what to ask, how to build trust with their adolescent patients, and the health consequences of adolescent binge drinking.
For details of conference For information on adolescent binge drinking ... if you want to frighten yourself

Ruth Kelly to re hash plans for extended school hours

Ruth Kelly, who was educated at the very expensive Westminster School , ("Old Westminsters" include Tony Benn, Martha Lane - Fox, Matt Frei, Helena Bonham Carter etc. etc.,) will announce (again) plans on for an extended schools hours scheme on Monday, under plans which could see English state day schools staying open for pupils from 8am to 6pm.

The £680 million Government programme would enable all children under 14 to join in extra- curricular activities by 2010.

Primary and Secondary schools will be required to provide activities to pupils which may include sports, language tuition, music and art groups and breakfast clubs.

Teachers would not be required to supervise activities outside lesson time, with responsibility instead falling on volunteers or private companies.

The Education secretary will visit a London primary school (Not thought to be the Junior Westminster Scool) to announce these measures and has released a statement carried by the press on Sunday. "The best schools are delivering extended services already."

"They know that children will be better placed to achieve their full potential if they are in child care that allows them to complete their homework, keep fit and healthy and have fun."

This is of coure a re-run of the pre election claims of Ruth Kelly on April 27th when she told an election Press conference that providing "extended schools" would be a duty on local education authorities. At the time she mentioned the figure of £680m for the scheme in England. She told journalists (BBC report ) one block of £250m over the next 2 years would be spent, she said this was in the Budget last month on further questioning it appears that this money is “money direct to the school and the head teacher to spend on the school's priorities".

Helped by a spin doctor it was pointed out that the full Budget document had said this extra was specifically "to help schools meet the challenges that provision of extended services involves in the shorter-term".

Ruth Kelly (members of Opus Hey! — the support group for Government ministers with special needs) also told reporters there would be another £430m, between 2006 and 2008, if Labour were re-elected: "new money, that we are allocating now to extended school provision" and outlined the details to be announced again tomorrow.

Asked who would run extended schools, she said "we are not talking about teachers - this is not something extra that we are imposing upon them". It might be, for example, a French assistant taking a French group or a university teacher showing a science club how to make nuclear weapons.

It would be "an explicit duty on local authorities" to secure the necessary facilities.

"They will want to work with schools and it will be up to schools to volunteer for that," she said - perhaps working as a group locally to offer a range of clubs.

But if they chose not to, it would be up to the local authority to find other providers.

The pledge was that all children would have access to the activities - "no more latch-key kids" - rather than that all schools would offer them.

The Teaching Unions response will be interesting … especially to the concept of handing over teaching and care activities to volunteers and third party companies.

Steve Sinnott, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers is already on record saying that insufficient funds are available.

Shadow education secretary David Cameron also welcomed the plans but expressed concern over how they would be funded.

“We’ve seen what happens before when they announce worthy initiatives without providing money to support them – resulting in a funding crisis and lots of broken promises.

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Edward Davey said the Government had “finally woken up to the needs of pupils and parents”.

“These plans sound promising but Ruth Kelly will need to answer questions on funding"

For anyone interested, the fuelling requirements of Westminster School pupils are as follows ...
7.50 am Breakfast is served in College Hall (originally the dining room of the Abbot of Westminster c. 1600).
Lunch (organised by Houses).
During the lunch hour only pupils in the two final years are free to leave the precincts without permission. Otherwise there are various activities, orchestral and choir rehearsals, and an opportunity to meet with Housemasters, Tutors and other teachers.
4.15 pm Tea is available every day for boarders and day pupils in College Hall or Grant’s Dining Room. Between tea and supper time most of the Lower School Activities take place and meetings of Upper School Societies are arranged.
6.00 pm Supper.

Fees ? Well.... £18,000 a year for starters ...out of taxed income plus. plus, plus...

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......

QUARANTEEN

Thornton, Lancs, is a popular retirement area but yobs have made the centre a no go area for the elderly. Wyre Borough Council has issued a Dispersal Order / Curfew which will initially last for six months on all (approx 1,200) under 16’s – said to be first such order in the UK.

PC Ari Lewis, the community beat manager for the region, said: "We have tried to speak to the youngsters to tell them the problems they are causing but it doesn't seem to get through to them."
"We want to give the town back to the decent citizens and business owners of Thornton."

Anyone who is caught breaking the order twice within 24 hours will be arrested.

Councillor Lynne Bowen is reported by the Mirror saying "Local residents have become very stressed about this. If it works we shall look to extend it to other towns."

Summer is a cumin in ... what self respecting 15 year old wants to go out ? Especially when they could stay in.

Pub Watch scheme in Middleton

With money from the Middleton Communit Disorder Partnership for radio equipment, a Pub Watch scheme has been introduced in 35 pubs in Middleton. This will help landlords and Police to enforce laws on behaviour and make it safer for the public.

The radio equipment provides direct contact to patrolling police vehicles to initiate a swift response to trouble.(Presumably mobile phones are not good enough ?)

Trouble makers can be referred to the Acceptable Behaviour Scheme. This is a joint committee of licensees, police and licensing officers who can recommend action ranging from written warnings to a 2 year local pub ban. Which is enforced by circulating photographs and names of offenders.

Glenys Paterson, Watch Scheme Advisor at glenys.paterson@gmp.police.uk or telephone 0161 856 9859 for more info.

Rochdale Community centres to lose £100K ... reports

COMMUNITY Centres will open with reduced hours , services, classes if reports that Rochdale Council has slashed £100,000 from their budgets are true - or cannot be reversed. 8 centres are said to be affected.

Councillor Colin Lambert is reported in the Rochdale Observer saying: “Unfortunately, the council is going to have to make some very unpopular decisions in this term. We will have to wait until after Friday’s meetings to discuss what options are open to us in terms of where the cuts will take place.”

Council manager Ann Tipton said: “The council’s cabinet meeting on 31 May approved a proposal to reduce the overall grants to community centres across the borough by £100,000.

“Senior officers of the local authority will be meeting with representatives of community centres in receipt of grants to discuss how to achieve this.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, is reported claiming that 8 centres got letters this week saying the cuts were proposed.

Sohail Ahmed manager of Deeplish Community Centre is reported stating the centre will £12,500 from their £45,000 fund.

Ken Farrar manager at Sparth Community Centre is reported to say they expect to lose £12,500 of his £53,000 fund, (already reduced from £56,000 in April.)

“Unpopular decisions “ Cllr Lambert ? … you bet. Insane? … yes. Community .. sense of …. Great thing for Councillors to talk about …. Let’s hold a sweepstake where the next CCTV cameras location will be …..

Dispersal Orders : Are they the answer ?

Harold Hill & Havering Independent Working Class Association This is a very interesting website that covers a London suburb. Well worth viewing. Thye have report from last year abour the utility of Dispersal Orders :

Hornchurch MP John Cryer asked the Home Office for an assessment of the effectiveness of the Dispersal Order schemes at Elm Park, Hornchurch and Upminster Bridge stations. The indications are that the problems of anti-social behaviour on the eastern end of the District Line have been successfully tackled by what is effect a curfew. Minister Caroline Flint MP said: "Use of dispersal powers under section 30 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, together with other measures, have contributed to a visible fall in the number of groups of youths loitering in stations and causing disorder on the eastern end of the District Line. It has also resulted in a significant reduction in crime." John Cryer said: "I am pleased these new powers have proved so useful." No reasonable person would deny that these Dispersal Orders have in the short term allowed passengers to travel on the District Line and use the stations free from the fear caused by gangs of youths. After all, public transport is an asset for the whole community, not a hangout for disaffected teenagers who want to cause trouble.

However, while we hear a lot about applications for, the implementation and the short term effectiveness of Dispersal Orders, there appears to be little about long term solutions to the problems of disaffected youth. While no one should be rewarded for bad behaviour, there is a need to try and channel the energies of youth into more positive and constructive channels instead of pushing them from one part of the borough to another as is currently the case.

Misbehaving youths do need to be challenged about their behaviour and left in no doubt as to how the wider community feels about the impact their actions have.

They also need to be given an alternative and offered a chance to do something more positive. This involves sustained investment in youth facilities and services - something that is sadly lacking at the moment. If this doesn't happen, one the Dispersal Order has expired, there is every likelihood that the problem will return. This means that a further round of Dispersal Orders will be called for. The result will inevitably be increased tension between youths and the police, increasing the probability of confrontations and disorder. Is it asking too much to have some joined up thinking on this issue for once?

ASBO marks man's card in London

Kevin Seabrook, 38, was jailed for two months at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on May 31 for persistently advertising for prostitutes in telephone boxes – or “carding”.

He was also given an ASBO, so when he is released from prison he will be banned from carrying any material that advertises prostitution or from entering any telephone boxes in England and Wales, except to make emergency calls. If he breaches the order he could face jail for up to five years.
--------------
Note : It is estimated 13 million cards are deposited in Central London phone boxes each year, equating to 250,000 a week, or 35,600 cards a-day. The cards are placed in the boxes on behalf of the girls by people known as ‘carders’ who are frequently students or unemployed. It is a highly lucrative trade and the carders can earn an average of £30 for 100 or £200 per day for between 600 and 700 cards placed. The girls pay for the carders out of their own wages, and with thirteen million of them placed annually, these wages of sin are in the region of £4 million.

The Criminal Justice and Police Act was brought in on 1 September 2001 made displaying vice cards an arrestable and recordable offence. This gives Police authority to take direct action against carders, and those arrested can have their cards seized and destroyed and may face up to £5,000 fine or six months imprisonment.

Caroline Archers book ‘Tart Cards’ is published by Mark Batty Publisher, ISBN 0-9724240-40.
See Home Office Consulatation paper

BLITZ AS DEESIDE POLICE TAKE ON YOBS

Extra police will patrol the streets on Deeside each weekend for the next four weeks and they warn anyone caught breaking the law will be dealt with.

Deeside Inspector Dave Jolly obtained temporary dispersal orders covering four communities blighted by anti-social behaviour earlier this year Connah’s Quay, Garden City, Sandycroft and Sealand Manor after complaints from locals.

This latest campaign is a response to public concerns that yobs are simply being moved from one area to another by the orders.

Insp Jolly said: “This is a zero tolerance campaign that has come about as a result of concerns raised by the residents of Deeside.

“We want to warn any young people that bad behaviour will not be tolerated. I’ve got extra officers on the streets at night, and additional special constables and community safety officers.

... response from residents ..no talk of cameras...they want police on the streets.

ASBO man can be Drunk but not Disorderly

The Daily Mirror reports today a hopeless drunk served with an ASBO that lets him get Drunk but disallows him from being Disorderly.

Alcoholic Charlie R has 219 previous convictions - 147 for being Drunk and Disorderly - He will be locked up if he causes a public nuisance for the next 10 years.

Police considered banning R, 49, of Seaham, Co Durham, from every pub and off-licence in the country. PC Mick Hayton, of the county's Anti-Social Behaviour Order unit, said: "If we prevented him getting access to alcohol, we knew he would die.

Peterlee JPs heard that for at least 15 years Rush had shown no willingness to mend his ways.

Asbo chief rounds on “liberal” critics

Ms Louise Casey, director of the Home Office Anti - Social Behaviour unit, in todays Guradian argues that critics including "youth workers, social workers and the liberal intelligentsia" should accept there is strong public support for the sanctions in addressing "a culture of intimidation". She says critics “are not living in the real world”.

Which is a curious thing to say as ASBO CONCERN (see posts previously) which is the focus of her concern and criticism is supported by over 40 organisation including the National Probation Officers Association, The Howard League for Penal Reform and Liberty.

Chris Stanley, of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO), said: "Young people don't pre-meditate their crimes and behaviour very often.

"They act on the spur of the moment and they don't think they will end up in custody, so it is not a deterrent. As a result the measure is ineffective."

A new MORI poll on the subject (ordered by BB2) has some fascinating findings which seem to support the results of the recent Rowntree Research Study (see previous posts – which showed 67% of people believe the government's emphasis should be on prevention rather than punishment in tackling antisocial behaviour). Almost half of those questioned by MORI believe the orders are ineffective in preventing people from causing antisocial behaviour. The Mori findings suggest that support for Asbos is strong in part "simply because it highlights that something is being done". While 82% back the orders (including 67% of Guardian readers questioned), only 39% feel they are effective.

But while one in five believes the orders, which apply to children as young as 10 and carry the threat of prison if breached, create more problems than they solve, 70% say they send out a clear message that action will be taken to combat antisocial behaviour.

Ms Casey said "Sometimes I wish people like Asbo Concern and some of the people who write letters to the Guardian could just see it from the point of view of the people in the communities."
Problems of crack houses on inner-city estates could not be addressed by "running enough youth clubs", she added, although it is difficult to find anyone who would suggest that was a plausible, rational or sensible policy.

The government made much of its fight against antisocial behaviour during the general election, boasting that the evidence of almost 4,000 Asbos and nearly 60,000 penalty notices for disorder showed communities could fight back.

Matt Foot, a criminal defence solicitor and coordinator of Asbo Concern, highlights the report by the European human rights commissioner criticising (see previous posts) the government for making Asbos too easy to obtain (only 3% of applications for orders are refused).

Matt Foot also highlighted a study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation indicating that two-thirds of people believe the government's emphasis should be on prevention rather than punishment in tackling antisocial behaviour.

But Matt Foot is also reported (bC Online) ,saying: "We aren't saying that anti-social behaviour doesn't exist, but where people are committing criminal acts they should be dealt with by the criminal law."

He added: "If we are talking about children hanging around in the street, I don't think that should be criminalised, and there are people now in custody for that sort of behaviour."

Alcoholic - ASBO - ASBO breached - Prison ..... where next ?

Jennifer F, 44, living in sheltered accommodation said to be suffering from mental health problems has been jailed for 4 weeks after breaching an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. She is believed to be the first person in Oxford to be imprisoned for breaching an order by drinking alcohol in the city centre. (Feb 2005)

Oxford City Council had applied for an interim ASBO after F was accused of intimidating behaviour towards elderly neighbours in her council accommodation on Whitehouse Road, shouting and screaming abusively and attempting at least one physical attack.

Dennis Kavanagh, prosecuting, accused her of twice flouting the city-wide drinking ban, Ford's defence lawyer Simon Graham-Harrison described her as "a hapless individual with mental health problems."

"In this case, an ASBO was simply not an appropriate way to deal with what is a serious issue. Whether Ms Ford has mental problems or not, she is clearly an alcoholic, whose problems need to be dealt with constructively to prevent the whole scenario occurring again." says Doug Jewell, Liberty Campaigns Co-ordinator.

Steve Kilsby from the Neighbourhood Renewal Business Unit at the City Council, said, "We're all very sympathetic to her case but she was causing extreme distress to other residents.

The cost of keeping this woman in prison ? The chances of re-offending?

Rochdale based wcctv

wcctv are a Rochdale based supplier of wireles CCTV systems. A report on their systems with Rochdale MBC is available here

Violent Crime Reduction Bill hands out new summary powers to PC's

Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, said: "It is difficult to avoid the impression that the ASBO is being touted as a miracle cure for urban nuisance.

"It is to be hoped this burst of Asbo-mania will quieten down , and that it’s use will be limited to appropriate and serious cases, where no other means of intervention might succeed."

"Responsible guidelines and realistic rhetoric is required, however, for this to happen. It is also open to question whether children receiving ASBOSs should be named."(Please note that on this site no photographs of ASBO offenders have been used - although this is common practice in the National Press, including children as young as 10 - in future we will refrain from giving the full names of offenders)

He is quoted in today's Daily Telegraph saying this after details of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (announced in the Queen's Speech) were published last night by Hazel Blears (see pic).

Police are to be given unprecedented powers to ban individuals from town centres and other locations for up to 48 hours in the latest Government attempt to get to grips with alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.

Under the proposed new law, Police Constables will be able to issue a written exclusion notice to anyone considered to represent a "risk of disorder", even if they are not drunk or have committed no offence.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, conceded that disorder zones and banning orders were a last resort for dealing with a problem that police fear will worsen when flexible drinking hours - including the potential for 24-hour opening - are introduced in England and Wales in November.

She said the prohibition notices, which will carry a £2,500 fine, were intended to send out a "short, sharp" message to young people to behave better.

Those familiar with the history of attempts to control youth crime will be familiar with Borstals (the name of the village in Kent, site of the original establishment)introduced in 1908. In 1982 they were all closed down, and had been replaced by Youth Detention Centres, with fixed term sentences. These had a much tougher régime, called a "short, sharp, shock". However, re-offending rates from these places was just as high as from Borstals.

For comment on Gil Robles report and comments see Shami Chakrabarti Director Liberty in Guradian today

Collins Dictionary defines the new social order

Any chav who misbehaves is likely to get an ``ASBO'' the acronym for the government's anti-social behavior order, which is defined in the new Edition of Collins Dictionary as , "a civil order made against a persistently anti-social individual which restricts his or her activities or movements, a breach of which results in criminal charges.''

Chav ? "a young working-class person who dresses in casual sports clothes". The word's origins may come "from Romany chavi a child.'' The dictionary also includes "chavette,'' the female equivalent, and the adjectives "chavish'' and "chavtastic'' suitable for or designed for chavs.

Liecester Partnership to engage with young people

Police and local Safety groups have combined forces and funds, in a major new initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour in East Leicestershire.

The force and the four Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) have pooled their financial resources to fund an East Area Anti-Social Behaviour Team and have contributeda Government funded £50,000 each and Leicester Constabulary have added another £90,000. The 4 CSP's are The Rutland Community Safety Partnership; The Oadby & Wigston Crime and Disorder Partnership; Melton Safer Communities Partnership and the Harborough District Community Safety Partnership

This will fund a team of nine part-time and two full-time community support officers and a co-ordinator.

Most incidents of anti-social behaviour are highest in the evening, so the teams will work mainly after 4pm.

They will deal with problems of minor disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Leicestershire constabulary's partnership manager Frances Burgess said: "The ASB co-ordinator monitors the complaints of anti-social behaviour and keeps the teams updated with the latest information.

"The teams then patrol the areas where the problems are being reported and talk to and engage the young people concerned."

Matthew Baggott QPM BA, Chief Constable Leicestershire Police will be addressing the ACPO/HO RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE today at Stratford Moat House Hotel, Stratford-Upon-Avon on the subject "Professionalising the Business of Neighbourhood Policing". Click on Link above for details or go to here

Man 75 gets ASBO Boy 10

BBC Tuesday, 7 June, 2005, 16:41 GMT 17:41 UK

Kenneth Addison 75 admitted threatening behaviour, common assault and indecent exposure at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court in Worcestershire.

He was jailed for 22 weeks for his crimes and will be subject to an indefinite Asbo on his release banning Addison from using the town's Brinton Park, as well as public drunkenness, swearing and spitting.

A 79-year-old woman who was given an order by magistrates in Blackwood, south Wales, last month is the oldest person to receive an ASBO. She was reported to have growled "like a dog" during a boundary dispute with neighbours.

BBC Wednesday, 8 June, 2005,

Calvin Hooper 10, and his brother Kyle, 12, from Newport, south Wales, have been placed under Asbos for five years by magistrates in nearby Caerphilly.

Both are banned from swearing, making rude gestures, damaging property, starting fires and throwing missiles.44 incidents were recorded in 14 months, including breaking windows and shooting at people with an air gun.

As part of the conditions of the Asbos, the boys are banned from mixing with certain individuals and also gives a night-time house curfew.

Local councillor Alan Morris said: "There are two issues here. The first is sadness that it has actually come to this - that two lads so young should be presented with such a serious ASBO.

"But secondly it sends the right message out to the community, that if enough people come forward and give evidence about the people who are making their lives a misery something can be done.

The Home Office said ASBOs could only be issued to people who have reached the age of 10, which is the age of criminal responsibility.

£50 fee to park at own home discussed by RMBC

MOTORISTS in Rochdale could have to pay £50 a year just to be guaranteed a parking spot outside their own home.

Each household in a designated parking zone would only get one resident parking pass and one visitors’ pass, so drivers could be fined between £30 and £90 if they visit a friend and no pass is available.

At a meeting on Tuesday councillors gave the go-ahead for parking zones to be set up on the request of residents in the hope of cutting congestion in hot-spot areas. Spotland Stadium , Infirmary etc.,

So far it's is only an idea, and local consultation will be required. What "consultation" means is disputed - usually chatter at a cheese and whine party when someone bends the Councillors ear.

Nottingham pioneers teen pregnancy scheme

BBC Thursday, 5 May, 2005, 11:31 GMT 12:31 UK

Nottingham has the third highest rate of teenage conception in the country. Teenagers could be paired up with toddlers in nurseries in a scheme to reduce the number of teenagers falling pregnant.

Nottingham health chiefs are now set to look at a scheme piloted in London that gives young people time with toddlers combined with a programme of education on a range of issues related to safe sex.

The city's genito-urinary medicine clinic currently deals with up to 35,000 cases every year.
Nottingham has one of the highest rates of infection in the country. Rochdale recently had a baby born with syphilis.

* In 2000, 38,690 under 18 year olds in England became pregnant
* 44.8% of these ended in legal abortion
* 7,617 of these conceptions were to under 16s
* 54.5% of conceptions to under 16s ended in legal abortion

Source: Office for National Statistics 2000 as reported in Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood: A review of reviews - Briefing summary Health Development Agency February 2003

The infant mortality rate for babies born to teenage mothers is more than 50% higher then the average, accounting for almost 400 deaths in 2000 (12% of all infant deaths). The infant mortality rate for babies born to mothers under the age of 18 is more than double the average, and there is also an increased risk of maternal mortality for this group. Source: DoH press release June 2002

England has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe - twice as high as Germany, three times as high as France and six times as high as the Netherlands.
Source: Teenage Pregnancy : a Social Exclusion Unit Report June 1999

..the good news is that rates are falling very slowly.

CCTV just got smarter

Intellivid Corporation of Cambridge MA has introduced Video Investigator™

As video capture has changed from analogue to digital VI offers a novel and impressive software product that transforms an in store CCTV system into a powerful-theft prevention system.

Computer-aided tracking (CAT) enables the monitor to follow suspects even when you're unfamiliar with the store / street layout. (it says on their website)

Point and click on the suspect to track, and CAT guides you to the camera where they will most likely appear next - Rapidly create complete videos of a suspect's path and behavior for the entire they are in your store... sounds a breeze.

Monitor high value assets or restricted areas automatically with Video Article Surveillance™ (VAS) Provides information about what assets are stolen and when, by attaching a virtual asset tag to high-value assets using video.

Theft incidents are found in seconds they claim : None of the time and limitations of time-based or pixel-change searches

Manage and communicate investigation results fast: Integrated management enables you to capture, combine and communicate video evidence and case notes quickly and easily. (Spot the face ? Winona Ryder celeb heavy duty shoplifter)

Northern Ireland ASBO law challenged

ASBOs were introduced in Northern Ireland last August to bring the province into line with England and Wales.

Before the ASBOs became law the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People challenged the move in the High Court but a judge refused leave to apply for a judicial review.

Meanwhile, the legality of anti-social behaviour orders in Ulster is to be challenged in the High Court next week.

Peter Neill 37, of Hazelbank Road in Coleraine, has been issued with an Order but is seeking a judicial review of the legality of the legislation.

Just remember - this is the United Kingdom

Second police chief warns against heavy use of AASBOs

Oct 28 2004 Kirsty Buchanan, Western Mail

Barbara Wilding, Chief Constable of South Wales Police, told Welsh MPs (in the presence of Peter Hain MP) the best measure of success for ASBOs was not how many had been issued - but how few.

In the 12 months to the end of September 2004 in Wales, 112 ASBOs have been issued. In the first four years just 19 were issued in Wales and of those 58% were breached.

She said ASBOs should only be viewed as a weapon of last resort as she detailed South Wales' model five-stage approach to tackling bad behaviour.

Stage 1 : troublemakers are written to and asked to stop offending behaviour - with 3,049 being sent out between January 2003 and September 2004.
Stage 2 : Continued bad behaviour would result in a further letter and a visit by the police.
Stage 3 : A conference of police and other agencies, such as housing officers or youth workers, which could lead to..
Stage 4: An Acceptable Behaviour Contract.

Stage 5 : Only if that is breached, would a person then receive an ASBO.

Dyfed Powys Chief Chief Constable Terry Grange, recently told the Welsh Affairs Committee, that excessive use of Asbos risked unfairly targeting youngsters for acting like children.

CC Grange has won the backing of his South Wales counterpart who also warned of the danger of "demonising" the young in the anti-social crackdown.

Abusive patients may get ASBOs

18:54pm 7th June 2005 Each year there are about 40 violent attacks against staff at the Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales. But every weekend Accident and Emergency staff have to deal with at least one or two abusive patients. Abusers will have their medical record marked and may be given an ASBO under a new scheme. The "Your Card is Marked" scheme the results in a patient will receive a letter telling them of the action being taken after each incident. Once a patient has received three marks the case will be taken on by the local ASBO team and could end up in court.

Security Advisor for the Trust, Russell Hoare, said the scheme was designed to tackle anti-social behaviour which is not serious enough to involve the police.

No patient would be banned from the hospital under the terms of an ASBO and would always receive emergency treatment.
Daily Mail more >>

Dorset's First Dispersal order.

Dorset Police issued their 1st Dispersal Order after an outbreak of anti-social behaviour in Bearwood , abuse and criminal damage, and under age drinking.

The Dispersal Order is centred on the Somerfield store and King John playing fields, and Runnymede Avenue, King John Avenue, Knights Road and some adjoining alleyways.

Population of Administrative County 394,600 in 2002, ( plus 163,444 in Bournemouth and 138,288 in Poole ) total 692,712. Lowest birthrate of any county – 4.6% and highest proportion of pensioners - 26.8% and house prices are the highest outside London.53% of the County is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(Pic. Lulworth Cove).Unemployment low- 1.0% , 31st. out of 34 Counties. 98.8% of the population are indigenous, i.e UK origin and birth.

Most of Dorset's coastline was designated a World Heritage Site in2001.

Get your Parking tickets here

Isn't it good to see how people enjoy the summer sunshine? Rochdale today. Difficult not to notice the empty shops for Sale / Rent in the Walk.

Nothing to say

Frank C@i@h@lm, 23, was arrested on March 13 in Hastings, accused of raping a 16-year-old girl, while wearing a balaclava, as she walked in the Hollington Old Lane area between 10pm and midnight on March 6.

He was refused bail as Judge Richard Brown said he was a danger to the public.

But last Thursday, after ten weeks in jail, one day before his plea and directions hearing, new DNA evidence proved Frank's innocence and he was released.

During his plea and directions hearing at Lewes Crown Court last Friday 3rd June , Judge Brown entered a not guilty verdict and said to Frank: "Nothing about this case reflects upon you in any adverse way at all."

Another battle won in the war on children

Until now, Britain's youngest ASBO owner was Stefan Gilmore, of Hastings. He was given an ASBO at the age of 11 in August last year. He is now joined by Siobhan Blake , also from Hastings, at 11 she has become the youngest child to be given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. 4ft 3in tall, she boasts of vandalising her school and terrorising neighbours in her seaside hometown. Her mother Mrs Blake, has been given a Parenting Order making her responsible for the child's behaviour.

Inspector Mark Bright, of Hastings Police, said that Siobhan's anti-social behaviour had "very real detrimental impact on the lives of many residents over many months." He added: "The support of the community was essential to ensure that this case was successful at court."

ASBO for tearway girl of 11 - Mirror
How could her parents let her become an Asbo girl? Daily Mail
Girls’s ASBO just 11 – The Sun

Don't put your daughter on the stage Mrs Worthington...

Manchester Evening News 6/6/05 ( and so, curiously did the Financial Times today) reports the results of a poll of over 1000 girls for www.thelab.tv. A provider of mobile services.

63% of girls asked claimed they would rather be glamour models than nurses, doctors or teachers. Jordan and Abi Titmuss were seen as role models by more 15 to 19-year-old girls than Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Germaine Greer.

The Lab spokesman Fraser Lewry said: "Teenagers are witnessing the likes of Abi Titmuss and Jodie Marsh gracing the covers of their favourite magazines every day, so it is hardly surprising that they want to follow in their footsteps.

"Taking your clothes off is now more lucrative than ever and teenagers see it as a great way of making money and becoming famous."

A quarter of the girls polled are said to have thought being a lap dancer would be a good profession but just 3% wanted to be teachers.

53% of those polled saw Abi Titmuss as a role model, compared to 33% for Jordan, 7% for Anita Roddick, 9% for JK Rowling and just 4% for Germaine Greer.
Emma of Salford on the MEN website says…” I have friends who are training to be nurses via college and university, when they leave they will have approx £10,000 debt to pay back. This kind of money can be made in a few hours by another friend of mine who is a glamour model….. I think if girls have the body confidence and the knowledge to avoid the wrong kind of work, then go for it.

Abi an ex nurse .."One newspaper recently called me the most pointless celebrity around. I'd have to agree with them on that," she told the documentary cameras, with a rather fetching self-awareness. In a recent TV documentary about her fame, it was revealed that her income last year exceeded £1Mn. She appeared on the front page of national newspapers (not the FT) 68 times, sold more calendars than anyone other than Kylie Minogue, and can pocket up to £5,000 for turning up at a provincial nightclub, doing little more than wiggling at a bunch of giggling adolescents catching her fleeting minutes of fame on a cellphone.( Pic Andy warhol who promised us all 15 minutes of fame)

Signs of the Times

Edenfield Road, Norden. Recently installed and now replete with the legally required sign. The remote control, wireless CCTV camera with near 360 degree view.

It says prevent and detect, hey! If it prevents what is it detecting?

Reduces the fear of crime ? You mean to say that there is no chance it actually increases the fear of crime - otherwise why do we need one ? No crime - no camera. QED. Signs of a society out of control.

Cutgate Precinct, Edenfield Road. The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 allows Local Authorities to declare "Alcohol Control Zones" - Bexley Heath, Kent wrote to 3,500 households on their Voters register to consult them about declaring their Zone. As a result, they amended it and extended it and further consulted 350 properties again.

Consultation by RMBC on declaring this Zone? Watch this space. First residents on Amy Street (opposite) new about it was, when this sign went up.
To make an Order the Local Authority must be satisfied that public nuisance, annoyance or disorder has been associated with anti-social behaviour. Statistics related to arrests and incidents will identify such areas.

Section 13 of the Act only allows the Council to designate a public place when it is satisfied that nuisance or annoyance to the public or disorder is directly associated with public drinking. Although no formal survey is required, the Council must still ensure that powers are not being used disproportionately. In general there should be evidence of an existing problem with an assessment of the likelihood that the problem will continue unless the powers are adopted. (Pic right Bexley Heath sign - neat clear - highly visible, click link for more information on this Beacon status Authority - superb website)

I wonder if anyone has computed the effect on house prices of all these signs and the way it reflects upon the area ?

Sticky deposits problem licked – spit don’t swallow

By Andrea Thompson News & Star 03/06/2005

2 West Cumbrian men have announced a worldwide patent protection for an invention to tackle the sticky problem of chewing gum.

Kenny Muncaster and David Relph, from Red Lonning in Whitehaven, have invented the answer to sidewalk spits and spots.
“We saw the problems of chewing gum on the streets, but instead of costly removal technology, we thought let’s catch the gum before it even hits the streets and becomes a problem.”

They have designed a small plastic pod, one half dispenses fresh gum, while the other side hides a disposal flip opening, to take used gum.

Kenny fantasises about world domination “This simple idea could have a global impact.Take Singapore for example – they even reached the stage of banning all chewing gum, and cities in the UK can now hand £75 on-the-spot fines for dropping gum.”

Dispersal Order needed with this lot !

Dishonesty at Work: Sound Policy better than CCTV

Michael Mosbacher Director Social Affairs Unit

Why the right recruitment - and exit – policies are far more effective than any CCTV camera in minimising dishonesty by staff, is the finding of a new study.

Dishonesty and deceit are increasing in the workplace. Employee theft, it is estimated, is responsible for 30% to 40% of all business failures. In the retail sector, theft by staff accounts for an estimated 50.8% of all "shrinkages".

Dishonesty at Work, (John Taylor & Adrian Furnham, 2005 ISBN 1 904863 03 5 £9.95) published today by the Social Affairs Unit, offers employers a practical guide to minimising employee dishonesty. John Taylor worked for many years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Adrian Furnham is Professor of Psychology at University College, London and has been acknowledged as the world's most productive psychologist for the last twenty years.

See also RESEARCH REPORT 36
VIOLENCE, DISORDER AND INCIVILITY IN BRITISH HOSPITALS
THE CASE FOR ZERO TOLERANCE ISBN 0 907631 97 5

THEODORE DALRYMPLE MD

84,273 incidents of violence or abusive behaviour by patients within the NHS were reported during the year 2000/2001. The number of such incidents reported in 1998-9 was pproximately 65,000.

“It is scarcely surprising if a young man, who has never met his father, and whom his mother has kicked out of her home because her current boyfriend, only a few years older than he, does not want him around, concludes that the only thing that should govern behaviour is first what you want and second what you can get away with.”

“The disorder in hospitals, as elsewhere, is the natural consequence of this kind of 'family' life; and anything that promotes this life also promotes disorder.”

“Disorder in hospitals - still a relatively minor, if growing, problem - is nevertheless a microcosm of many of our social problems.”

BBC News Report - " Thousands of doctors and nurses have been attacked over the past few years. One study found that one in 10 NHS staff had been assaulted over the past 12 months; for the general public the figure was one in 310."

Another grisly chapter in the War on Children

Mother hid dead babies in the freezer
BY SIMON FREEMAN, TIMES ONLINE June 03, 2005

Graz, 120 miles south of Vienna, birthplace of “Arnie”Schwartzenegger is realing from the sordid tale of the discovery of four dead, newborn babies.

Their mother, a woman aged 32, is woman is believed to have given birth to them over the course of the past three years. She is said to have confessed to the killings saying that she wanted to hide her pregnancies from her boyfriend. "I hope God can forgive me," she told investigators.

The woman's long-term partner, a carpenter aged 38 who has three children from another marriage, told Police that he had never noticed that she was pregnant.

Graz is the regional capital of the province of Styria which has had a program in place since 2001 allowing women who don't want to keep their babies to give birth anonymously. In June 2001, a baby hatch was installed at the LKH-Regional & University Hospital, Graz at the initiative of the Government of Styria, the charity Caritas (Roman Catholic Diocese of Graz-Seckau) and the Styrian Hospitals Authority.

This allows mothers who can see no alternative to give up their baby anonymously and without being observed (at a Babyklappe - see photo) at a place where it will be safe and properly cared for.Legislators use only one supporting argument: avoiding the risk of infanticide.

France, Luxembourg and Germany (through use of the Babyklappe)allowing such anonymous births. 42 US States have enacted "save haven" laws which permit a person -- usually a parent -- to abandon a newborn baby, at a specified location (texas 1st state to do so in 1999). Sweden has the "Allmänna barnhuset" which follows a royal decree in 1771 to prevent mothers of unwanted illegitimate children being sentenced to death. Despite objections that it steals the Right of the Child the knowledge of their parenthood there are more demands for the process - a major topic of debate in the Czech republic for the last 7 years.

"A Common Thread" is a French Film (shown London from 20th May) that won the Critics' Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004 explores the topic through headstrong Claire who learns that she is five months pregnant at the age of 17, she decides to give birth anonymously.

The Legislative Decree on the Protection of Births was enacted by the collaborationist Vichy government in 1941 and has been said to be a result of the consequences of collaborators seeking to conceal the parentage of children by the occupying forces. Today the today the procedure for anonymous childbirth is set out in Social Action and Families Code (Art. 222-6) It is said 2 children a day are born under these "X" provisions but recently moves have been made to reduce the practice.

In spite of the passing of a law in 2002 creating a National Council for the Access to Personal Origins, the traditional line of ‘respect for life’ arguments for the maintenance of accouchement sous X has prevailed in France. Surprisingly, this line is supported by the feminist ‘pro-choice’ movement, and converges with a line of arguments that criticizes the supposed ‘biogenetization’ of society, and advocates a definition of the parent–child relation as a ‘purely social construction’.

Once identity erasure became institutionalized, it became normalized giving the new government the same benefits that it gave the Vichy government: The X laws maintained bourgeois standards of family honor, paternity and sexuality. The X laws obscured criminal and abusive sexual relationships. The X Laws relegated and continue to relegate the victims and their offspring, not to mention just plain inconvenient children, as official state secrets.

The European Court of Human Rights in 2003 upheld the French law, ruling that denying children given up at birth the right to discover their biological parents' identity did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights, and that such children were not victims of undue discrimination.

"I'm deeply, deeply upset," said Pascale Odievre, who was given up for adoption at birth in 1965. She brought the case after trying for more than 13 years to discover her mother's name through the French courts.

High Noon time for High Hedges - get the Low down

High Hedges Complaints:Prevention and Cure

Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives District and Unitary authorities, the City of London and London Boroughs powers to deal with complaints about high hedges, came in to operation in England on 1 June 2005.

This 74 Page (Yes folks that’s 74 pages of wit and wisdom) Guide sets out the Government’s policy advice on administering complaints about high hedges in England. It outlines the law and suggests ways in which local authorities can run the system in line with good administrative practice. In addition, it offers advice on the steps people can take to avoid more hedge problems in the future and, where they do arise, how they might settle the matter amicably.

Any questions about the Guide should be addressed to the Trees and Hedges Team, Zone
[3/C5], Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU or emailed to hedges@odpm.gov.uk.

PS The legislation does not cover roots… pretty important parts of a tree and they can cause enormous damage… who says our legislators are far sighted ? ...ooooh almost forgot.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have published two free explanatory leaflets for the public: 'Over the garden hedge' offers advice on how people can settle these disputes themselves. Negotiation is a necessary precursor to submitting a formal complaint to a local authority. Authorities can reject a complaint if they consider the complainant has not done everything they reasonably could to settle the matter themselves. The second leaflet 'High hedges: complaining to the Council' explains what complaints local authorities can consider and how they will deal with them.

Copies of the leaflets can be obtained from ODPM direct or they can be downloaded from their website.


For REAL Hedge Freaks>>>>>>
Ivor has his own Webpage about HIS hedge >>>>>



No. NO Madam this is not a spoof.

Rowntree Trust say ASBOs not the only answer

BY PAUL JEEVES Yorkshire Evening Post 3/6/05

A Yorkshire think-tank has called on the Government to focus on the causes of anti-social behaviour rather than just dishing out Asbos.

Research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals that 66 % of adults believe preventative action offers the most effective way to tackle intimidation, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.

Just 20 % of people interviewed in a specially-commisioned national survey see tough action in the form of an anti-social behaviour order as the best way forward. Another 11 per cent called for a combination of prevention and enforcement.

The study, carried out by King's College, London, suggests that even in neighbourhoods experiencing serious anti-social behaviour, residents offer conflicting explanations for the problems. Focus groups in some worst-affected areas found that while older residents tended to view anti-social behaviour as a symptom of declining moral standards, others blamed it on social deprivation and the disengagement of a growing minority of young people and families.

A third group took a "kids will be kids" attitude, seeing anti-social behaviour as a consequence of young people's tendency to rebel, get into trouble and antagonise their elders.

Study co-author Professor Mike Hough said: "The Government's campaign against anti-social behaviour appeals to the 'law-abiding majority' to take a stand, portraying a struggle between ordinary, decent people and a tide of loutishness.

"The reality suggested by our research ... suggests that the public want policy makers to balance tough enforcement through Asbos with strong action to prevent problems and offer young people constructive alternatives."

The research combined a survey of adults in key areas across the country in major cities such as Leeds alongside in-depth interviews with community representatives and bodies such as the police, anti-social behaviour co-ordinators and housing officers.

Prof Hough added: "In areas most beset by anti-social behaviour, ways must be found of countering the sense of powerlessness and entrenched pessimism among residents ."

paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk
03 June 2005

Excluded Telford 14yr old boy gets 2 yr ASBO

Shopshire Star for full story.

A teenage Shropshire tearaway has been banned from the communities which he plagued with violence and intimidation.

Bobby Arnold, 14 of Brookside, Telford, excluded from Lord Silkin School last year, was made subject of a two-year ASBO at Telford Magistrates yesterday.

The application was brought to court by the Police, in partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council, following a string of complaints.

On one occasion he was in possession of a replica gun. The court heard how the teenager had been a nuisance to shopkeepers, and claims he had been racially abusive on one occasion.

Here's an interesting bit of CCTV fillum

Go >

Leeds Dispersal Order Initiative to end on Saturday

Leeds South homes (LSh) is an Arms Length Management Organisation formed from part of the local Council's Neighbourhoods and Housing Department. In February 2003 LSh took over management responsibility for the Manor Farm estate in South Leeds which had, for a number of years, been suffering from an increasing number of acts of anti-social behaviour perpetrated by local youths.

LSh and the Council's Anti Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) then agreed a new course of action. They gathered together all previous evidence used to obtain orders against individuals and presented this, alongside new evidence, to West Yorkshire Police in the form of an application for a Dispersal Order. On the basis of that evidence the police agreed to grant an order covering the Manor Farm estate and its neighbouring areas of the Newhall estate and Middleton Park Circus.

The Dispersal Order gave the Police and Police Community Support Officers the standard Dispersal and Curfew powers... but also....

West Yorkshire Police have undertaken to carry out high profile patrolling of the designated area and to monitor progress in liaison with the main partners in the initiative, LSh and the Council's ASBU. Specialist units such as the CID and Drugs Team also play an active role in this new approach.

The Dispersal Order applies from the 6th December, 2004 to the 4th June, 2005.

.... watch this space for news of the results....

608 ASBOs issued in Greater Manchester since introduction

Since being introduced in 2000, up to end September 2004, a total of 3,826 ASBOs were issued in England & Wales. 608, of them were issued in Greater Manchester. (CLICK logo for more info)

NOISY NEIGHBOUR AND VISITORS HIT WITH ASBO

icWestLothian 3/6/05 Debbie Spalding (pic Janis Joplin)

A COURT has been issued to a Whitburn woman who has been terrorising neighbours with shouting, swearing and stamping her feet. Angela Muir (35), of Jubilee Road in Whitburn, has been issued an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) which bars her from unruly behaviour at her home for a year.

The ASBO prohibits her from playing EXCESSIVELY LOUD music , shouting, swearing and screaming, stamping her feet and banging doors.

It also bars visitors to her house from behaving in the same way.

…This last (if correct) must be a novel ( and m'learned friends amongst you, must wonder about it’s legality and enforceability) use of the ASBO legislation.

PARTY NITE, TONITE -- EVRY NITE - A MODEST PROPOSAL

NORDEN SCHOOL
BIG OUTDOOR PARTY EVERY NIGHT
UNDERAGE DRINKING – AL FRESCO SEXY FUN
BOOZE EASILY AVAILABLE IN VILLAGE
NO INTERFERING POLICE PATROLS
NO WASHING UP, SMASH YER BOTTLES, (CLEANED UP NEXT DAY)
MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS YOU WANT, SCREECH, YELL, SHOUT, YELL, MOAN, WHINE, BELLOW, CAUSE DAMAGE, SMASH THE PLACE UP…..
COME AND SEE THE MESS LEFT BY THE SCHOOL, WANDER ACROSS THE UNCUT, UNKEMPT GRASS (NON SMOKEABLE) , LOOK AT THE UNTIDY HEDGES……..
TAKE THE CHANCE NOW SKOOL IS SHUT AND THE DISPERSAL ORDER / CURFEW KEEPS YOU OUT OF THE VILLAGE ……
GUARANTEED GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL –
EXCEPT BY RESIDENTS, NEIGHBOURS, etc., etc.,

CROYDON issues 9th Dispersal Order this year

3/6/05 ic Croydon

The 9th Dispersal Order this year has been issued in Croydon covering Warminster Road, Warminster Gardens, Avenue Road, Avenue Gardens, Pitville Gardens, Lancaster Road, Lakeside Close, Coleman Close and South Norwood Lakes, it ends on November 22nd.Others are already in place in New Addington, Thornton Heath and Selhurst.

PC Amanda Parrack, of the Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "The behaviour of these groups of youths has been making the lives of the local residents unbearable in some cases and affected their quality of life. These orders will allow us to continue to tackle antisocial behaviour, which has affected this local community."

A police questionnaire was sent out to 150 residents - and more than half said they were scared by the groups and supported bringing in a curfew.(No exact figures provided, but a novel approach , consulting the public directly.)

Cabinet Member for Crime and Public Protection, Cllr Paul Smith said: "We continue to support the police in their efforts to deal with antisocial behaviour through the use of dispersal order powers.”

Dispersal Orders failed to work ...so try them again.

3/6/05 Sunderland Evening Gazette

Gangs of yobs who terrorise residents on two Teesside estates are being targeted in a police crackdown today. Two 6 month Dispersal Orders, commencing today endingl December 3 cover one area bordered by West Dyke Road, Greystoke Road and Woodside and another area bordered by West Dyke Road, Low Farm Drive, Mersey Road and Troutbeck Road.

Inspector Dave Mead, of Redcar police, said: "The community police team has worked tirelessly with residents' groups and elected members to improve the quality of life for those suffering the misery caused by gangs of unruly youths " ...... "The orders are an important weapon in our armoury, but will not solve the long-term problems alone."

"To this end, further policing initiatives including Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and the execution of search warrants will be used in conjunction with the dispersal order."

Chris Abbott, ward councillor for the Newcomen ward and Essex Close resident which will be covered the order, said: "Residents have long pressed for this “ …”We have had a lot of problems since we had a dispersal order a while ago. There is a particular gang of youngsters who have caused considerable damage through arson and anti-social behaviour."

Youths rampage with chainsaw

Herts Comet 2/6/05 YOUTHS with a chainsaw and axes damaged a fence and two 20 foot fir trees, felling one, near a quiet residential street in Stevenage. At around 8pm residents saw a group of youths hitting trees and the fence with axes. When Police arrived the youths run off.

2 hours later another call was logged to say that a fight between youths and residents had broken out. Two of the teenagers were taken to Lister Hospital suffering from cuts to the back of the head and arms.


"The residents had intervened before we got there. We have arrested three residents as a result of a confrontation with the youths. We have recovered the chainsaw." Said the Police.

The incident happened a stone's throw (who is throwing stones in a Dispersal area ?) away from the boundary of one of the Police's Section 30 Dispersal Orders. Now the police have extended the boundaries of the order to include the grassy area. In future if youths congregate there, they can be moved on by police officers.

This story reads more like Vigilantes attack youths.

Clitheroe hi-tech computer linked CCTV catches crooks

Clitheroe News PC Diane Kavanagh, of Clitheroe police, today explained (2/6/05) the new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology linked round the clock, to Clitheroe and Whalley's existing CCTV cameras, scanning number plates of every car entering the borough.

Since the "intelligence" operation has been up and running, a huge number ( not stated) of notable offenders have been stopped and dealt with.

Numerous drink drivers have been caught due to the ANPR system .The technology helped aid detection of a burglary in the area, where the suspect's vehicle registration involved was inputted and an image of the vehicle and driver were captured.

After identification of the driver, he was arrested and charged with the offence.

The technology, which checks over 10,000 vehicles per day, has helped in the recovery of stolen vehicles and has also reduced the chance (?) of people having their cars stolen or becoming the victims of crime.

Insp. Bob Ford, officer in charge said "The ANPR alerted police when a vehicle carrying known shoplifters from another area drove into the town.

"The information was passed to CCTV and the occupants were subsequently arrested after attempting to steal from one of our stores."

Insp. Ford added potential crimes had been prevented after a vehicle carrying 2 known burglars was stopped after an alert from the ANPR. The offenders were spoken to and made aware of the CCTV system, they left town.

In addition to the powerful technology, Insp. Ford revealed Clitheroe has a mobile ANPR set, which is used in a stationary vehicle that can be parked anywhere police think it would help prevent or detect crime.

"We are currently liaising with West Mercia Police into the on-going investigation of a large high value vehicle fraud after a vehicle from the Birmingham area passed through Clitheroe," commented Insp. Ford. "As a direct result of the ANPR alert, vital information regarding the whereabouts and current owner of the vehicle is now being investigated."

As the scheme had proved successful in Clitheroe and Whalley, Insp. Ford said officers were looking into expanding ANPR to cover the busy A59, however, the system costs a great deal of money and in order to keep it up to speed, it has to be up-dated regularly.

ANPR was introduced in conjunction with the Ribble Valley's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). If a vehicle is stolen or has been used in the commission of crime it can be stopped.

If the system picks up a match or "hit", that is then notified to an operator as an alarm. Officers at Clitheroe police then make a relevant decision based on the information supplied.

For those interested, a similiar system, installed by Sanderson Computing has operated for several years at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, to identify known shoplifters, late payers of fines, stolen cars.

CCTV nets £3m Parking Fines in one London street

By Ross Lydall Evening Standard 2 June 2005
The Evening Standard used Freedom of Information legislation to obtain details of the London streets that have the most Parking fines issued.
In the year to April, motorists in Atlantic Road, Brixton had 31,124 tickets issued – worth £3,112,400 (without penalties for delay in paying fines) - the most targeted street in London.

The 2 number plate reading cameras in the Brixton street were only introduced in September - they each issue about £43,000 worth of tickets a week. A London Assembly investigation this week found the number of tickets issued in the capital had trebled in a decade to six million a year, making the boroughs a £113 million annual profit.

Paul Watters, head of roads and transport at the AA, said: "I have always been worried that CCTV parking enforcement will generate this kind of 'honey pot' for councils."

25,693 of the tickets were issued after number plates of illegally parked vehicles were recorded by CCTV. The remaining 5,431 ( more than 100 a week) were issued by Wardens.

To date, Lambeth has received £649,190 of the fines issued in Atlantic Road, though this is expected to increase.

SUN uses CCTV footage as Entertainment

Jeshma captured on CCTV
SEE last recorded moments of murdered teen captured on CCTV

...that's the teaser headline that takes you on SUN Online to

An article By CHRIS JOHNSTON and ANTHONY FRANCE June 2nd 2005

"THESE are the last recorded moments of murdered teenager Jeshma Raithatha, captured on CCTV cameras.

The footage shows her shopping in a Primark store on Wembley High Road, West London, on the day she was killed.

Later that afternoon the 17-year-old was raped and stabbed in the heart three times in a random attack as she walked along a secluded path.

Police are trying to trace her final movements before she was forced into a den on May 16. Jeshma is seen dressed in jeans, T-shirt and cardigan as she queues to buy a top at about 2.20pm."

...... How does this help ? How do the SUN invade everyone's privacy on this CCTV clip with impunity ? Who owns the Copyright on the images ? Do they pay anyone for this footage ? Does it help find her killer (s) ?

ASBO breach by shoplifter gets 8 months.

Whitehaven News 2/6/05

William Glaister, 24, of Mirehouse, Whitehaven was given an ASBO in February 2003 for 3 years which banned him from entering any shops in Whitehaven town centre, except for two hours in the early morning.

After being caught shoplifting on April 23, Glaister was sent to prison for 8 months after admitting breaching his ASBO.

Hooded youth, 16, admits killing Good Samaritan

By Jenny Booth, Times Online June 02, 2005

Gary Prescott, 16, broke a two-year ASBO given 10 days before he killed a Good Samaritan . He wore a blue Adidas hooded top at the brief hearing at Newcastle Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Thomas Noble on April 24.

The 52-year-old victim was a hard-working father of five, who stepped in to stop a fight between teenage gangs, near his home in Moreland Street, Roker, Sunderland. Prescott hit him on the side of the head and he fell to the ground, striking his head on the pavement. He died from his injuries two days later at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Chief Superintendent Jim Campbell of Sunderland Police said: "This ASBO has been breached in heartbreaking circumstances, but this does not mean it is an ineffective piece of legislation.”

"By prosecuting those who breach ASBOs it deters others either already subject to an ASBO or engaged in anti-social behaviour, by highlighting the potential consequences of their actions."

He said when teenagers get in trouble, the police"s first response was to write a letter to their parents, followed by a home visit if bad behaviour escalated.

DANGER Birdbrains at work

Evening Telegraph 2/6/05

Bird woman agrees deal to avoid ASBO action

The "Bird woman of Burntisland" has negotiated a compromise with Fife Council. And Kirkcaldy Sheriff Paul Artherson agreed to suspend the local authority’s application for an ASBO against retired teacher Jean Smith.

The council had alleged Mrs Smith’s bird feeding disturbed neighbours and caused fear and alarm by encouraging birds, particularly seagulls, to swoop on locals.

Had the ASBO been granted, Mrs Smith (60) would not have been able to feed any bird anywhere in Fife.

Police still considering Dispersal Order effects

By Tess McDermott Epping Forest Guardian 2/6/05
A Dispersal Order covering Waltham Abbey town centre was put in place last October and renewed in January. It expired on April 30th.

Police are hesitant about granting an immediate renewal.

Inspector Sean O'Callaghan said rough estimates showed a reduction of 30% calls to the area during the 6 months, but added it was important to study the figures closely before jumping to conclusions.

He said: "We haven't run up the flag and said it was a major success. Was the reduction in the right area? There's no point saying it worked if the reduction was related to a totally different area of crime and anti-social behaviour problems remained the same.

"So we have to ask: did it work ? If it did, why was it working? It was never meant to be a permanent ban.”

He added, “ … we want to look at the root cause of the problems and attack it positively rather than negatively if we can. "

Can Norden learn from their experience ...?

Top cop's Dispersal notice admission

Tottenham Wood Green, & Edmonton Journal 24 02 June 2005
Haringay residents saypolice officers do not fully understand the powers of the Dispersal Order imposed on the area around Effingham Road.

Haringey Community and Police Consultative Group met members of the Ladder Community Safety Partnership who questioned what police were doing to enforce the order. They also raised the problem of lengthy and non-existent police response times.

Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Stephen Bloomfield said: "I'm not going to dispute what you say that some officers do not know the full powers of dispersal notices." ….“dispersal orders are not a quick fix and often took time to have the desired effect.”

Chief Superintendent Bloomfield said he was aware of calls coming in which police have not responded to and said due to call prioritisation there were simply not enough officers.

The dispersal zone - which covers Effingham, Fairfax and Falkland Roads - was enforced earlier this year to clamp down on young tearaways who, according to residents, make life in the area a nightmare.

Chief Superintendent Bloomfield did not explain why the Orders were made if he had insufficient staff to enforce them.

Bristol sets national example in Comunity Safety says Government

Anti-Social Behaviour Work Blazes a Trail Through Bristol
Vandalism, graffiti, criminal damage, loutish behaviour, intimidation – these were all random acts of anti-social behaviour which blighted many communities around Bristol. Starts a report from a2Media Group – click on the heading for the whole of a very interesting review of what is happening in Bristol.

..... following 18 months of work by the Safer Bristol Partnership - Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Bristol City Council, Housing and other agencies - many estates and areas are transformed and Bristol has been highlighted by the Government as a national example of best practice.

Community Safety Inspector Phil Davis, Bristol District, said the success of the last 18 months was a result of solid groundwork by the Safer Bristol team and excellent links with the communities.

He said, “The 24 hour ASB action line number - 0845 605 2222 – has received over 350 reports of anti-social behaviour since it was launched in February 2005.

….. so what is this Action Line ? …………………..

It is run by Together Action Line, which is a third party subcontractor to the Home Office , to whom approx 20 Local Authority areas have subscribed – including (locally) Salford and Oldham. Currently it is run by a pleasant lady based somewhere in London called Annie.

Members of the public are routed as priority to their local Police to report Anti Social Behaviour – but only if their post code AREA IS subscribed. Obviously this allows incident reports to collected on a national basis.... well England and Wales.

I suggest as a matter of URGENCY that RMBC sign up for this service and publicise the number. This could very easily be incorporated in any Dispersal Area signs (but currently absent) and the required (but absent) signage for CCTV cameras.

Yet again this exemplifies the cavalier, inadequate and ill considered way this scheme for Dispersal orders, CCTV cameras in Norden has been proposed by RMBC and approved by elected representatives.

Another reason why this matter should be the subject of a Public Meeting. ASAP – that means AS SOON AS POSSIBLE