Addressing Britain’s Teenage Anti-Social Behaviour Crisis
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The government launched various campaigns over the past few years to combat anti-social behaviour but none have made a significant impact. With the latest announcement by the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, urging the police to adopt the “harass the harassers” approach; are we trying to treat the symptoms and not the cause.
Over the past few years, anti-social behaviour and violent crimes committed by teenagers in the UK has been on the increase. One of the initiatives taken by the UK government in 1998 was the introduction of the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) which aimed to prevent perpetrators from continuing disruptive or harmful deeds.
Although the figures show that the number of ASBO’s issued has dropped by 34%, the number of breaches committed by teenagers has risen to 61%. Teenagers do not regard ASBO’s as punishment but rather as something to be proud of.
The life of the ASBO seems to be drawing to an end and a new initiative is being pursued by the home secretary, who is urging police forces to adopt the “harass the harassers” approach based on a scheme launched by the Basildon police in Essex. Operation Leopard, as it was called, involved 14 persistent offenders being put under 24 hour surveillance, not covertly but openly, for 4 days. During these 4 days, no offences were committed on the estate.
Operation Leopard was a success but seems impractical to roll out nationwide. It would be a costly exercise as more police officers would be needed to monitor all ASBO offenders. If the primary focus is switched to ASBO offenders, would other crimes take a lower priority?
With the failure of the ASBO, limited success of campaigns such as Respect and other initiatives, perhaps it is time to address the root of the problem and not just try and treat the symptoms.
It is said that the majority of offenders reside in deprived areas as council estates, and within the inner cities. Several studies have been conducted citing lack of discipline; drug and alcohol abuse and lack of activities for teenagers as the predominant causes of teenage anti-social behaviour.
Not all teenagers from low income households become Yobs or behave in an anti-social manner, therefore although this can be a contributing factor it isn’t the only cause. It seems that there is an increase in the number of children and teenagers showing blatant disrespect for other people, from playing their music at full volume on public transport, to vandalism.
Discipline begins at home and is the responsibility of the care-giver. Parents need to take responsibility for instilling moral values in children. Spare the rod; spoil the child still holds true today. This does not condone corporal punishment, however if parents don’t teach children boundaries at home, where will they learn to respect other people.
2 Comments
I completely agree. Parents have to take the time to lay down the rule for our own children and not leave it to the schools and society. The children are our responsibilities, the schools and society can lend a helping hand.
Exactly – in a world where these children’s role-models (celebrities … need I say more) get away with anti-social behaviour, how else do they learn to gain attention? Breaking things down is so much easier than creating, and they’ve learned that the simple option gets them street-cred.
Perhaps, like in NY, tackling the “smaller” crimes will see a drop in the bigger ones? Good for the police for trying new initiatives, but I agree, it can’t all be left to them.