A curfew for children under the age of 15yrs

[Ripeberry]

A friend remembers that in the 1970's there was a curfew for children under the age 10 yrs old in Switzerland, No child was allowed out by themselves after 9pm at night.

Why can't we do this kind of thing in this country? If any kid is found outside by themselves after 10pm will be taken to their parents and the parents get a fine.

Would sort out youths hanging around all night

[Onemorning]

Tarty, not all 15 year olds have something to do. Some of them are avoiding a shit home life by just 'hanging out' with their mates, or not allowed to have their mates over.

[dexter73]

My dd(14) can often be out until after 10. She goes to Rangers until 9.45 and then walks back with her friend. She goes to the local youth club that finishes at 10.30. There was a teen club night at the local nightclub that finished at 10.30. Netball finishes at 9 so by the time she has had a shower and come home it is nearly 10.

[2shoes]

if it stopped the shits up the road it would be good, but it would never work as who would police it

[exoticfruits]

They are easily out after 10 if they have been to an activity of some kind.

[TartyDoris]

15 year olds should not be out after 10 in any case.

If kids are out, why can't they be doing something instead of just "hanging out" and causing a nuisance?

[Onemorning]

YABU

What about kids who aren't troublemakers? And what about those for whom home is a nightmare?

[HHLimbo]

I imagine the OP is a rather nervous skittish type.

"Oh, theres someone outdoors! Walking in the street! Quick, call the police!"

[onagar]

There are kids who cause trouble. We had some serious problems here at one time. But that didn't make me hate all kids. They are not all out there making trouble. They are out there living their lives. Which they have a right to.

You could as others have suggested improve crime figures by banning other groups of people. Any group really would work. How about banning black people, or Catholics from going out in the evening?

It's the wrong approach to punish a category of people

[GypsyMoth]

whilst we are at it lets ban the under 5's from costa coffee too eh?

[Riveninside]

nothing wrong with 'hanging out' in general. And under 12 I certainly played out in the summer till dusk which was very late!

[SusanneLinder]

Disagree with curfews for under 15's. We have very little trouble here,but any we do have is caused by 16-22 year olds.

I have 3 girls , two are adults now, and I never let them "hang about" the streets.They went to friend's houses, and sometimes walked home from there (very local). I would have been very annyed if they had been picked up by police from walking home from a friend's house.

Aren't we supposed to be bringing up our kids to see the police as a friend? How are we going to do that if they are taking innocent young kids home who are not causing any trouble?

[robingood19]

A curfew on under 12s would be a good idea. Alone after 8pm

[Riveninside]

get the police to actually deal with the troublemakers (whatever age) and do regular foot patrols rather than criminalise all people under 15.

[TimeWasting]

Enforcing a curfew would mean less resources targetting the actual criminal behaviour. Lose-lose.

[nomoreheels]

They were a mix of ages, obviously. But plenty look 15 or under. & they are definitely up to no good.

Police are already often very slow to respond to asb unless it progresses to criminal damage etc (& even then they didn't turn up in time to catch the kids who hotwired & destroyed our car as we watched helplessly from the window) so a curfew would be impossible to enforce without real resources. And even if there was one I would think it should be at the police's discretion, eg if they see evidence of asb or think a young person is at risk.

[HHLimbo]

If anyone is commiting violence or vandalism, that is the time to call the police.

Not just because someone is outside

[HHLimbo]

Or, why not just lock up all children from birth?

OP YAB Sooo U!

You have not thought this through properly. Think, Ripeberry, Think!

[Ripeberry]

Chandon, that's the reason I started this thread, seeing those kids doing whatever they like and knowing their 'rights' to use this against innocent people and even the police trying to do their jobs.
Just think it's weird that we think it's the end of the world if a kid walks by themselves in the woods or is left at home, but for some reason its Ok for them to be out late at night?

[Chandon]

OP, I was thinking this after I saw the BBC programme last night, about the gang of youths who hung around making it impossible for a normal family and their children to sleep.

When a dad came out and asked politely to keep a bit quiet so kids could sleep, they threatened to rape his kids next time they saw them.

The kids weren't hanging around by their own houses, oh no, they went somewhere else. Poor poor people having to put up with this!

And those gangs, with their violence and intimidation. Thank God I don't live on one of those estates. Some "kids" are scary.

[GypsyMoth]

so none of those are over 15 then nomoreheels??

[nomoreheels]

We have the exact same problems with local youths as Squeakytoy mentioned. It's bloody awful & I've been shocked at how some kids have had zero respect for authority - laughing at police, coming back & doing the same crimes they were just busted for. If you lived with full on anti-social behaviour as a regular problem then a curfew might seem like the best thing ever. I'm not sure it would work but life round here would be so much better if they weren't hanging around.

We have a flash youth centre opening here in January. I hope it will reduce some of the problems as it's high time there was somewhere for kids to go round here. But sadly, I don't think the kids who prefer to hang out in our park with their staffies, Stella & spliff, fighting & destroying things, will be making use of it.

[TiaMariaandDietCoke]

that should be midnight soccer - sorry!

[TiaMariaandDietCoke]

While I understand the sentiment behind the suggestion (and the reasons its been tried elsewhere) I find it really sad - yes there are young people out on the streets far later than they should be, in unsafe places and doing unsafe things - yes, society, as well as the parents, should do something to address the problem - but a blanket curfew on all under 15's?

Nevermind the time wasted with police checking id the kids don't have in the first place to verify their age, and then ferrying them home if they're deemed too young - what about young people who are doing no harm?

Can a 14 year old nip to the corner shop at 9.30pm because mum's run out of milk for the morning? On a summer evening can't they play out on the street? There were about 6 kids all under 15 playing football outside our house until about 10.30pm last night - they were doing no harm and are some of the nicest kids you'll ever hope to meet. There's also a mindnight soccer scheme run in the town once a week for that age group - the youth clubs open until well after 9pm and (having visited them for work reasons) they are doing some excellent educational and training work that really benefits the young people long term.

I guess what I'm saying is that not all kids on the streets at night are up to no good, and not all are the kids of irresponsible parents - thats why blankets policies like a curfew generally aren't supported for long

[LineRunner]

This would require all young people to carry ID cards.

Mental.

[TimeWasting]

If the police aren't capable of dealing with the actual crimes here, harrassment, vandalism etc. why trust they would fairly and effectively enforce a curfew anyway?

It's a lazy response to a complex problem and wouldn't achieve anything in the long run.
Forcing children to stay inside the destructive home environment is going to make them more fucked-up.