Criminalizing kids

In response to the widespread increase in knife crime, the Devon and Cornwall police have instituted “Operation Goodnight”, a new curfew program that will allow anyone younger than 16 found on the street after 9 PM to be “removed.” Children under 10 will be sent home after 8 PM.

Now, no one is saying that it’s a good idea for 9 year olds to be running around late at night without their parents, and the rise in knife crime is certainly troubling. But is treating all kids who are socializing in the evening as criminals really the way to change a culture or to discourage them from behaving badly? Do we really want to live in a society where 16-year-olds who walk home with friends or buy a soda after an 8PM movie are looking over their shoulders, worried they’ll be shooed home?

After all, in the summer it’s still light out at 9 PM, and realistically, many schoolchildren with time off will not be headed to bed for a few more hours. But that is not even really the issue. The question is, should the government be deciding what bed-time is, or should the onus be on parents? A mentality that emphasizes the government over the family, and in which all youth are potential criminals will do little to help what is, at its root, a cultural problem.

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written by Stewart, July 16, 2008

"Do we really want to live in a society where 16-year-olds who walk home with friends or buy a soda after an 8PM movie are looking over their shoulders, worried they’ll be shooed home?"

As you say that only those under 16 can be shooed home after 9pm, this should't really be an issue.

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written by John, July 16, 2008

It certainly should be an issue. Why on earth should a law abiding fifteen year old on his or her summer holidays be subject to a curfew on the arbitrary basis that some fifteen year olds commit knife crime?

Are you claiming there are no legitimate circumstances under which a 15 year old should be allowed out of their family home after 9 o'clock?

Presumably, on the basis that there are some criminals who share your first name Stewart, you should alo be subject to a curfew order - what's good for the goose and all that.

It shouldn't be necessary
written by Angus Day, July 17, 2008

This comes from the same well of stupidity which sees white-haired grandmothers on their way to the Costa del Sol taking their shoes off, their pills and potions separated into plastic bags, to pass airport security, because, for some reason which is never properly explained, we are not allowed to target extra security where its application is effective.

Similarly here - so far as I understand the law, the police have (or they certainly had) ample powers to remove children from the streets if they suspect that they are likely to cause trouble. But these powers can't be used, it would appear - perhaps for fear of accusations of hoodiphobia?