The government says it plans to give children a real voice in its radial shake-up of childrens services. Young journalists from Childrens Express speak to people of their own age about curfews.
| You’re meant to protect children, but not wrap them up in cotton wool. |
Eight-year-old Cindy Crome is confused about curfews. She doesnt understand why the government should decide what time she should be at home. Parents should decide because theyre your mother and father. The government is not. Child curfews for the under-tens were part of the governments attempt to tackle youth crime. Nine-year-old James Fletcher accepts theyre a good idea. There should be a curfew for seven- and eight-year-olds, he enthuses.
However, many young people reject the need for curfews for under-tens, arguing that teenagers are the main problem. I know lots of people my age whose parents let them stay out late. They get mixed up with the wrong crowd and involved with things like drink and drugs, admits Jasmine Ferguson, 15. Yet, with the ultimate responsibility for enforcing curfews lying with parents, she doubts they will make an impact on those children who are in need of greater support. There are a lot of parents who dont care for their children or are too busy to notice. The governments got to pay attention to how well parents take care of their children. Younger children who get into trouble are very often only following the example set by older siblings.
The restrictions imposed by curfews could further erode childhood, argues Jesse Mears, 12. People say childhood years are the best of their life but, if we cant go out or do anything, then were going to regret it.
With the streets offering an escape from school or home, Julia Press, 18, is also concerned that curfews will make many feel trapped by their circumstances. What about all the kids who cant go home at night? They end up on the streets because their parents are having an argument, theyre scared theyll get beaten up or theyre going to get abused. While those suffering abuse might be a minority, most see the streets as a much needed space to be with friends. But, if better youth facilities were available, they say they would use them. There should be things set up for children so they dont end up coming round the streets and committing crimes. Just youth clubs that would keep them busy and stop them from doing all that stuff, says Mears.
Kathleen Dawes, 15, is also concerned that curtailing freedom will prevent young people from taking the risks that prepare them for independence and adulthood: Youre meant to protect children, but not wrap them up in cotton wool, she says.
Most believe curfews are unimaginative and ineffective, failing to address the real issues. As Press puts it: Surely they can do something else to combat anti-social behaviour and make a better society a better place?
Children feel that adults should be under the spotlight, although they accept that an adult curfew would be unworkable. Nobodys going to listen anyway, says Ferguson. Fletcher concludes that Home Secretary Jack Straw should concentrate his efforts on holding young adults to account for their actions. There should be people watching adults because theyre the ones that do most crime and make kids do it too.
About the team
This Childrens Express discussion was led by Oliver Robertson, 16, with editors Kathleen Dawes, 15, Julia Press, 18, and Pete Campbell, 17, and reporters Jessica Mears, 12, and James Fletcher, 9. It was published in Community Care.
