Kritiek op Engelse bevoegdheid om jongeren wegens overlast naar huis te brengen

De nieuwe Britse regering heeft nieuwe plannen voorgesteld voor de aanpak van overlast. De regering stelt voor om politieagenten te bevoegdheid te geven om overlastveroorzakende jongeren naar huis te brengen. Op dit voorstel binnen de nieuwe aanpak van overlast is kritiek geleverd: het naar huis brengen van de jongeren kan hem in gevaar brengen. Vaak is de thuissituatie namelijk vaak sprake van ernstige overlast en dit is voor de jongere erg gevaarlijk.

Inside Housing meldt:

Vulnerable children could be exposed to greater danger if government plans to curb anti-social behaviour go ahead, a children’s charity has warned.

Barnardo’s has warned that the police direction power, proposed as part of the Home Office’s anti-social behaviour reforms, could see children returned to unsafe homes if it is used without considering the risks.

The power would allow the police to ask anti-social individuals to leave a particular area, but would also encompass the power for police to return home unaccompanied young people under the age of 16.

Barnardo’s said that many children involved in anti-social behaviour are from highly disadvantaged backgrounds characterised by abuse, bereavement, educational difficulties or residence in high crime neighbourhoods.

Anne Marie Carrie, Barnardo’s chief executive, said: ‘If police send children back to abusive or unsafe households or move them on without consideration for the reasons behind their anti-social behaviour they could be placed in greater danger.’

‘There needs to be much better communication between Police and welfare services to ensure we are not putting children at risk and ultimately perpetuating the cycle of offending.

‘That is not to say that young people shouldn’t face the consequences of their actions, but if we want to protect children we should be able to map welfare needs in communities, not just crime, while preventing offences rather than just reacting to them.’

Barnardo’s said that it should be made compulsory for courts to ask for information about the home lives of children who are being sanctioned for anti-social behaviour to ascertain the likelihood of a young person being supported to change their ways.

The Home Office consultation closes on 17 May.

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