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“McConnell defends hardline action on antisocial behaviour : Jack McConnell yesterday defended his controversial plans to curb antisocial behaviour, denying that ministers were stigmatising youngsters. The First Minister told youngsters at a Labour party gathering in Glasgow that young people were themselves often the victims of antisocial behaviour and the crackdown would help improve their lives. . .“ Scotland on Sunday
“Jack: I stand firm on ned law:” Jack McConnell last night defended his controversial bill to introduce tough anti-ned laws. The First Minister told young Labour Party members the laws are necessary to protect youths from anti-social behaviour. . .” Sunday Mail
“McConnell denies ‘demonising’ youth: First Minister Jack McConnell is expected to deny ministers are stigmatising young people when he launches a renewed defence of his administration’s plans to curb anti-social behaviour. . .” BBC 8.11.03
Posted by MM on Mon 10th Nov 2003 at 2:36 pmSee 30th October posting for initial coverage and official links.
“Why talking up youth of today will win votes: Jack McConnell won the May elections with a manifesto promising war on vandals, tearaways and nuisance neighbours. He saw his tough talk on anti-social behaviour as a positive response to the complaints he heard from ordinary people across Scotland. . .” Evening News. Comment. 6.11.03
“Anti-yob law bid attacked: Jack McConnell’s plans to get tough with young yobs have been attacked by a social work chief as a threat to ongoing work with young people in the Lothians . . .” Evening News
“Waging war on yobs: Maybe, just maybe, the days of the street corner yob could be numbered. The Scottish Executive has unveiled a raft of hard-hitting measures aimed at cracking down on the ned culture which has brought misery to so many - and not before time.[. . .] Some police bodies have called the proposals unneccessary but they shold try telling that to people, of all ages, whose lives are being ruined [. . .] Yes, the measures are tough. Let’s just hope they work.” Sunday Post: Opinion. No link.
“Tackling ned culture: Jack McConnell last week unveiled the details of one of his key policies, to attack anti-social behaviour. Inevitably, the launch was overshadowed by other political events, particularly the Tory leadership crisis and the opening of the Fraser inquiry, but this is a significant initiative by the Scottish Executive which will be welcomed across the country if it is successful [. . . .] The move has raised objections among the usual suspects - from politically correct politicians (who even object to the use of the word “ned") to social workers who put more energy into excusing youth disorder than preventing it. But most Scots, especially those who live most closely with these problems, will back the initiative. . .” Scotland on Sunday
“Prince?s Trust warning over youth crime bill: Executive?s antisocial policy under fire as poll finds majority of young Scots feel let down by services [. . .] The Prince?s Trust has warned that attempts to crack down on youngsters who persist in hanging around street corners could irresponsibly demonise them and aggravate their sense of isolation. . .” Sunday Herald
Radio
Lesley Riddoch (phone-in). BBC Radio Scotland. Thurs 30th Oct. Scroll down play-list and click play again symbol for Thursday. Available 7days.
Sunday Live. (Features young people’s responses). BBC Radio Scotland. 2nd Nov. . Click ‘listen again’ symbol.
Also
Kenyon Confronts. Wednesday, 5 November, 2003 1930 GMT on BBC 1. Yobs: Busting the Ban; In the war against crime on Britain’s streets, one of the government’s big ideas was the Asbo (anti-social behaviour order), which clamps down on young louts and yobs who terrorise their local community [. . .] Paul Kenyon goes undercover to reveal how hundreds of young tearaways are ignoring the bans and flouting the law [. . .] In an exclusive survey of local authorities he discovers that the Asbo system is on the point of collapse.
Posted by MM on Mon 3rd Nov 2003 at 2:15 pmScottish Parliament
Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill (.pdf)
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision in connection with antisocial behaviour; to make provision about criminal justice; to make provision in relation to child welfare; and for connected purposes.
Explantory Notes and other Accompanying Documents (.pdf)
Policy Memorandum (.pdf)
This Bill introduces a number of measures and changes to tackle antisocial behaviour
more effectively. The Bill is intended to support the Executive?s strategy to bring about a step
change in people attitudes and behaviour. . .”
Scottish Executive
“Anti-Social Behaviour Bill: A package of measures to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour was unveiled today. . .” Scot. Exec. press release
Press
“It’s Time to Tag the Tearaways: New powers to beat neds. Tearaway kids will be electronically tagged as part of a controversial crackdown confirmed by the Scottish Executive yesterday [. . .] Daily Record readers played a huge part in drafting the new rules. . .” Daily Record 31/10.
“ Blighted by Crime: The First Minister launched the ned crackdown in a community blighted by anti-social behaviour. Jack McConnell, pictured left touring West Pilton in Edinburgh, was shown where gangs roamstreets scarred by burnt-out council tenements. Community activists in the area welcomed the new Bill. Betty McVay MBE, 70, said: ‘It is a positive move’. . .” Daily Record 31.10.
“McConnell bill to tag ten-year-olds: Juvenile delinquents as young as ten could face electronic tagging to keep them in line, after the Scottish Executive finally published details of its Anti-Social Behaviour Bill yesterday. . .” Scotsman 31.10.
“Politics of tagging a talking point on estate: Young Pilton Derry, daubed on the walls of the boarded-up flats, harks back to the 1970s when sectarian gangs battled among themselves on the tough north Edinburgh estate. The teenage gangs who use the name now, however, represent a modern phenomenon considered by many to be far more sinister. . .” Herald 31.10.
“Scottish police get powers to break up gangs of yobs: Scottish ministers went ahead yesterday and gave the police powers to disperse gangs of rowdy youths despite opposition from senior officers. . .” Daily Telegraph 31.10.
“Bill aims for safer Scotland: The executive has pledged to target anti-social behaviour
Long awaited legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour in Scotland’s communities is to be published. The Scottish Executive claims the bill will be a major step forward in the effort to create a safer country. . .“ BBC
“Critics have expressed concern the new anti-social behaviour bill will stigmatise young people (19.09 head-line). Jack McConnell defends controversial measures in Anti-social Bill (mid-pm headline): Powers to force parents to take responsibility for their children, electronic tagging for under 16s, and the police being able to break up groups of youths are just some of the measures detailed today to tackle Scotland’s so called ned culture. The government says the new powers will be welcomed by every community. Critics fear it will stigmatise young people. . .” Scottish TV
“Anti-social behaviour Bill issued: A Bill to allow electronic tagging of under-16s and introduce on-the-spot fines for vandalism and graffiti was published at the Scottish Parliament today. . .“ Edinburgh Evening News
“Cautious welcome for powers to tackle yobs: New legislation, which will give Scottish police forces the power to break up gangs of yobs in the street, electronically tag youngsters under 16 and haul feckless parents into court to answer for their children, have been given a cautious welcome by Tayside?s Chief Constable John Vine. . .” Dundee Evening Telegraph
“Here’s how I’ll end nightmare on our streets: New legislation in Jack McConnell’s crackdown on anti-social behaviour was unveiled today. After months of tough talk, the First Minister has issued the Bill providing the legal framework to support his pledge to combat bad behaviour, especially by young neds. . .” Evening Times
Will your organisation be issuing a press release in response? If so, please e-mail CjScotland so that we can add a link or include a short text in a news item.
Posted by MM on Thu 30th Oct 2003 at 1:10 pm