Young People's Real Lives Ignored by Asbo-obsessed Executive
Wed., October 25, 2006. 11:13.
Greens warn of dangers of "paedophobia"
Scottish Greens are to launch a stinging attack on the Executive parties for criminalising children and young people, undermining Scotland's renowned hearings system and planning to force councils to use measures such as dispersal even when they may not be appropriate.
Following a report finding that children's social work services are severely underfunded, Green MSPs will lead a debate on young people and families in Parliament tomorrow (Thurs, 1) arguing that the obsession with authoritarian responses to antisocial behaviour, in particular extending ASBOs to under-16s, has diverted attention and resources away from addressing the causes. It is also threatening to undermine the highly-respected and unique Children's Hearings System which has formed the keystone for child welfare for decades. (2)
Patrick Harvie MSP, Green speaker on communities, said, "The Antisocial Behaviour Act was wrong from the outset and it's no surprise that some councils have chosen not to use the powers it created. It is a draconian, aggressive, headline-grabbing gimmick that appeals only to those who want to present the impressions of a quick fix.
"Its focus on powers to be used against children and young people also reinforced the idea that they are to be feared. Research shows that the UK is becoming a nation gripped by "paedophobia", and that condemning young people is not helpful - it's clear we need more effective action to prevent a whole section of society becoming isolated and stigmatised." (3)
Greens recognise that ASBOs can be beneficial as a last resort in some cases, but oppose them being applied to under-16s. Instead, Greens argue for a shift towards more family support, inter-generational community work, youth work, mediation, safeguarding the Hearings System from any further policy moves that may undermine its principles, and adequately funding children's services.
Investing in keeping children out of the criminal justice system is cost-effective. For example, the inter-agency scheme Barnardo's Freagarrach aims to reduce and ultimately stop the offending behaviour of 12–18 year-olds who are at risk of being removed from their communities because of the frequency/severity of their offending. (4) The scheme reduced offending in 2004/5 from 491 charges pre-programme to 179 during the programme, over a comparable period and has been shown to produce "significant savings" to the criminal justice system. (5)
Harvie added, "There are no quick fixes for youth offending and anti-social behaviour - any politician that promises one is lying. There needs to be more focus on prevention and rehabilitation, on supporting families when there are initial signs of problems, with the criminal justice system only used as a last resort in extreme cases. Only in this way are we going to address immediate problems and prevent them occurring in the future.
"Labour's so-called "respect" agenda is nothing of the sort - it fails to respect the challenges young people and families face in our modern society, and the diversity of their lives. The LibDems are not much better. They backed Labour in shutting down the landmark Airborne centre in 2004, scrapping a programme that had remarkable results in helping young people break out of the cycle of repeat offending. They also supported the introduction of the Antisocial Behaviour Act, helping to present it as a solution to the problems faced by communities. It is painfully obvious now that it was nothing of the sort."
Greens opposed the Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2004) because it fell way short of delivering a workable solution to the problem of anti-social behaviour. The legislation offers little in the way of prevention and rehabilitation. In contrast to the philosophy behind the Children's Hearings System, the Act sees the child as a problem and does not address the issues which have led to the antisocial behaviour. (6)
Notes
1. BBC report: Social workers warn of funds gap.
Draft motion for parliamentary debate on morning of October 26:
That the Parliament recognises that children and young people are shaped by their relationships and experiences at home, in their schools and communities, by the physical space they find themselves in, and by their economic circumstances; understands the absolute importance of these factors at the centre of healthy development; acknowledges that families and young people need support from time to time and that communities, public services, local authorities and the Scottish Executive share a responsibility to meet this need; regrets however that public debate in Scotland has increasingly reduced children and young people to simplistic stereotypes, either as innocents to be protected or as problems to be contained; in particular that the tone of debate on Antisocial Behaviour has distracted attention and resources from the need to address the wider issues in young people’s lives; believes that where problems such as youth disorder have arisen local communities are best placed to decide on the appropriate response; therefore rejects the idea of forcing local authorities to use specific antisocial behaviour measures against their better judgement, and calls on the Scottish Executive to develop a comprehensive approach to supporting families and young people.
2. Scotland's Children's Hearing system is focused on the individual circumstances of each child. It is predicated on the fact that keeping a child at home with properly assessed and resourced support will normally result in best long term outcomes. Indeed, the 'no order' approach is always a considered option.
3. IPPR press release: Childhood is changing, but ‘paedophobia’ makes things worse.
4. Introduction to 2004/5 Freagarrach Falkirk annual report:
"In 1999 funding was provided by the Scottish Executive to extend the service to 16- to 17-year-olds to prevent them from entry into or escalation through the criminal justice system.The 5-year external evaluation of Freagarrach was published in 2001, hailing it as successful in reducing offending and long-term criminal careers in young people who attend, and in producing significant savings to the criminal justice system."
5. See p5 of annual report, available from Greens' press office.
6. Scottish Greens news: Report on antisocial behaviour.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.