Should we have Child Curfews?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 10:50

Some states in America have youth curfews to keep children off the street at night; a state of curfew makes it illegal to be out of doors between certain publicised times. In America over 300 individual towns have passed local curfew laws that vary in detail, but are all aimed at reducing juvenile crime and gang activity.



It seems strange that In Britain a 1998 law allowed local councils to impose curfews for all children under ten, although none has yet chosen to do so.!



Is it about time young people were subjected to night-time curfews as a way to reduce crime?

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 11:08

Someone would be sure to shout about civil liberty infringements. A lot of these kids hanging about on the streets have parents who don't give a damn and are either on the drugs or alcohol, so I don't know how it would work. There was a small town in Scotland had a trial period and it seemed to show an improvement in things but as far as I know it is back to the way it was.

Old story I suppose, it should be the parents who take responsibility for the kids and in my view at the moment in the UK too many kids would be home alone unless there is a curfew for the parents too.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 11:09

We all know that Youth crime is a major and growing problem, often involving both drugs and violence. What is particularly worrying is the rise of youth gangs who can terrorise urban areas and create a social climate in which criminality becomes the norm.



By imposing youth curfews it can help to solve these problems, as they keep young people off the street, and therefore out of trouble, and prevent them from congregating in the hours of darkness. I would assume that curfews would be easy to police compared to other forms of crime prevention, and would therefore be very effective.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 12:07

The use of child curfews can help to protect vulnerable children. Although responsible parents do not let young children out in the streets after dark, not all parents are responsible and inevitably their children suffer, both from crime and in accidents, and are likely to fall into bad habits. Society should ensure that such neglected children are returned home safely and that their parents are made to face up to their responsibilities.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 12:08

Furthermore, there is no good reason for children to be out unaccompanied late at night, so a curfew is not really a restriction upon their liberty. They would be better off at home doing schoolwork and interacting with the rest of their families.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 14:11

Bill,...



are you mad???



What,.. have the little devils indoors all night on the PS2 or Facebook?





No Way!



Here's my suggestion:



Give them:

A tent.

A primus stove.

Billy Can.

Box of matches.

Tin of beans & sausages.

Take away their mobiles, or anything electrical.

Lock them out.

Give them a booklet on 'Roadkill/Foraging'.



You then open a bottle of wine and watch what 'you' want on TV.





After a couple of nights you will find children will respect the 'full Catering and Housekeeping' services provided by parents.



Then draw up a whole new set of 'House rules'.





Rob

Geejay


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 475

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 14:25

More proposed state interference in family life and nu-lab social engineering.



What happened to parental responsibility ? Parents should be liable for their offspring's behaviour. If they fail to control their children they should be held accountable and brought to book. This should not be just some governmental gimmick.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 15:23

Geelay



That's all very Altruistic,..



but are you saying that the Grandparents of Baby P should receive life sentences for their childrens offences, or the Parents or Grandparents in all the other horrendous cases we hear of?







Or are you prosing some form of 'cut-off' age from liability?



If so,.. what?





Alternatively, you could propose that children of criminals could be held somehow partly responsible for their parents acts?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
02/09/2009 18:42

Message 11. After reading a copy of men only they'll soon be running outside....curfew or no curfew.... )