Curfews for under 15s - is this really the answer?

Question

The Scottish headlines have been dominated by calls from MSP Helen Eadie to "eliminate children under 15 completely from the streets at night". She wants "zero tolerance".

The Labour MSP from Dunfermline East recently visited Cowdenbeath, in her constituency, to address the issue of anti-social behaviour...but when she got there her car was surrounded by "hoodies" and was rocked and damaged. Yes, this must have been a scary experience but is condemning ALL under 15s (the majority of whom are law abiding) to house arrest really the solution?

In the adult world, similar measures would never even be considered. For example, a minority of adults commit crimes like theft...could we show 'zero tolerance' and stick ALL adults in jail to prevent it from persisitently happening? I think not.

Condemning all kids to curfew as kneejerk reaction to her own scary experience is proposterous and penalises all the law abiding children who should be entitled to freedom at night, right?

Answer 1

A minority will always be prejudiced against ESPECIALLY if they have no vote - so politicians don't have to care what they think, therefore they can make a hardline sweep response instead of actually having to think about finding a solution. A ban on football because some people are hooligans would cause a government to collapse, it's just because young people have no effective power.

It would work (for those children whose parents at least have SOME control over them, but then again the worst offenders would just ignore it, as would their parents) - but then again it's very unjust and unfair.

Answer 2

Why shouldn't they. On week nights anyway. I mean if parents have no control over their kids, and don't care what their kids are up to at 1 am on a monday night roaming the streets, then maybe the gov't should step in. People always complaining about it becoming a nanny state, but they set themselves up for it don't they. I mean if we didn't have hoodie culture and people respected their neighbours and communities then this wouldn't even be an issue. I say 11 pm on weeknights and 1 am on weekends. I don't think that is being unfair. What is there to do later than that anyway beside cause trouble. If it does come in to effect they only have themselves to blame. The fines would need be huge though, 500 quid first offence, and the parents should be charged with something too. Accountability is something that is seriously lacking in this country.

Answer 3

I do think this works but it should only be imposed on children who have done something wrong.

My niece got herself into some trouble last year after falling in with the wrong crowd. She had a 9pm curfew imposed on her and in her case it has really worked. It has helped her become close to her parents again due to the time they now spend together every night and understand why it's important to have structure in her life. She even said to me the other day that she really regrets not having knuckled down at school and everything she put her Mum through during that time. I know I didn't realise those things until I was at least 20!

Shouldn't under 15's have a curfew from their parents anyway though, especially on a school night. I did!

Answer 4

A curfew is not actually going to stop the majority of kids staying out after dark, if anything, it's more likely to encourage them to do so.

I'm also angry that she's only decided to call for a curfew after her own experience of anti-social behaviour, yet residents in the area must have suffered for years beforehand.

Answer 5

i have two under 15 year olds and i think this is a good idea...what are the parents of 9-10-11-12-13-14 year old children doing letting them roam the street until god knows what hour of the night...parents should be held responsible for the child's actions...not only do they cause grief to pensioners etc...but don't the parents realise that the streets of the UK are not only unsafe at night but all so in the day....there are a lot of sick people roaming are streets waiting for a chance to do harm to are children....so what do some parents do...they let them roam the streets alone...and when there child gets abducted they turn up on TV in tears...what did the expect to happen....we as parents should act now and not let our children roam the streets unsupervised...parents that do not take care of there children should be made to pay in court when there children do a crime....it might make them think before shoving the child on to the streets

Answer 6

I wouldn't mind having my kids inside at late night hours. If you want to take them somewhere, you can go ahead and do it in a car. They won't be stopping every car to see if someone under 15 is in it. It's just keeping kids safe from others and from doing something they shouldn't be. I have no idea why any children would want to be wandering the streets late at night, so I think this is alright.

Answer 7

yeah i agree a curfew is brilliant idea, i have a 13 yr old daughter and no she is not on the streets at night , but alot of her friends are, and this causes many an argument, "god so and so's mum lets So an So stay out till ?? "
yeah she turned into Kevin, some of these parents dont care where their kids are, as long as their not annoying them,
it time parents are made aware, times are changing ,, these kids are our future,, an its not a future i'm looking forward too

Answer 8

How could this work? So all the kids who are well behaved and obedient and studious and who have decent parents who set sensible boundaries will be indoors whilst every tow-rag with behavioural problems and hopeless parents will be hiding round the corners. What are they going to do - lock them all up? This is the sort of daft legislation we all think up over a few drinks on a Friday night.

Answer 9

Although I don't like gangs of kids, I share your concerns. There were stories about children being targetted on their way home from scouts and other activities.
I think the answer is to have more police/special constables who could break up large gangs. And load them up, if they get too troublesome and lock them up! And then fine the parents. And when I say parents, I don't just mean the custodial parent. I mean the proper fathers as well!

Answer 10

What time is 'at night'?

Regardless, a curfew will not help. Only law-abiding teens will adhere to it and they're not the ones who are the problem.

Banning kids from being out at night will only make it more appealing and daring for them to go out and cause trouble.