View Full Version : News: New Crackdown on 'Yobs'


Geoff
25-03-2004, 12:18
A VILLAGE in Barnsley is set to become one of the first areas in the country to see tough new laws aimed at curbing `yobs’.

Police officers have highlighted numerous complaints of disorder, damage, intimidation and youth nuisance in Bolton upon Dearne over the past month. As a result, South Yorkshire Police and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have agreed to designate certain parts of the village under section 30 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 for the next six months.

From this Friday, March 26, Dearne Road, St Andrews Square, Wath Road, Mansion Fields Park, West Avenue and a neighbouring park and allotments will be covered by the new legislation.

This means that police officers and community wardens have extra powers to take action against youths that are misbehaving or likely to act in an antisocial way by directing them from the area. Those who fail to do so or who return to the area will be arrested and charged with offences under the Act.

In addition, youngsters under 16 years who are in the designated areas between 9pm and 6am without a responsible adult can be taken home or to another place of safety.

Inspector Tim Innes of Goldthorpe Local Partnership Team said: “My officers will be taking a robust approach to enforcing this legislation during the authorised period with a view to increasing the quality of life for residents who are simply fed up with having to live with disruptive and upsetting behaviour.

“Local Partnership Teams in Barnsley provide a new approach to delivering longer term improvements to people’s quality of life. This new legislation compliments this approach and we will seek to fully use the powers to deliver on our commitment to make a difference.”

He added: “We will closely measure the impact and success of the order in Bolton, with a view to implementing similar measures in other areas of Barnsley. Meanwhile we will continue to use all other available police powers and tactics, including antisocial behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts.”

Source: South Yorkshire Police.

Mo
25-03-2004, 13:54
Any attempt to curb these vandals and thugs has to be a good thing but designating certain areas out of bounds does not solve the problem. It might solve it for people living in those particular areas but the yobs will just move to somewhere else won't they?

Agent Orange
25-03-2004, 14:08
I live in the next village to Bolton and I can honestly say that the area has had a problem with yobs for years and it's good that the police can finally do their jobs and sort these teenage morons out.

Agent Dan
25-03-2004, 14:19
I am generally in support of this, having had problems with similar gangs when a youngster but I was rarely at home at 9pm when 16... Certain parts of this proposal worry me though:-

"...to take action against youths that are misbehaving or likely to act in an antisocial way ..."

Hmmmm...

"In addition, youngsters under 16 years who are in the designated areas between 9pm and 6am without a responsible adult can be taken home or to another place of safety."

Also fairly worrying - if this village sets precedent, then any kid under 16 could be taken "to another place of safety" (i.e. a police station) for walking through an area... forcing them to use alternative routes (likely to be away from traffic and other people) and leaving them unprotected...

It reminds me of the 'if' programme that was on TV the other day about the generations falling out...