Sponsored by
Mediation for nuisance youths
POLICE are planning to start mediation sessions between gangs of youths blamed for anti-social behaviour and the residents affected by their actions.
South Yorkshire has a relatively good record on anti-social behaviour with only one-third of the number of incidents reported that senior officers would expect in other areas of the country, such as Northumbria.
But research shows that the public perception of anti-social behaviour in this region is much worse, despite the encouraging statistics.
As a result the force wants to try new tactics and is planning to introduce mediation in the hope of forging a better understanding between the different generations.
South Yorkshire Police already employs a professional mediator and a bid has been made to the Government for funding to finance a project in Sheffield.
Senior officers expect to be told within the next few weeks whether the request for 20,000 has been successful. If it has, it should pave the way for a project in one of the areas of Sheffield most badly affected by anti-social behaviour.
Police already know the identities of children blamed for causing problems and of those who feel their quality of life is affected by groups of youths gathering in their neighbourhood.
Parents of the children involved would also be invited to mediation sessions, with the hope of reaching a compromise that would satisfy the expectations of all those involved.
Police know that some youths deliberately cause problems and those would still be expected to be dealt with by conventional enforcement, such as anti-social behaviour orders.
Many others are involved on the peripheries of causing anti-social behaviour problems, however, and the results of their actions are not deliberate.
Police hope that if they can prevent problems from starting it will free up officers and police civilian support officers to tackle those who cause serious problems.
Some positive action to tackle problems can have unexpected consequences, such as the development of a skate park in Stocksbridge.
That was created as a reaction to problems with youths congregating near shops. Now their use of the skate park has provoked complaints from some residents nearby about disturbance.
Supt Simon Torr, South Yorkshire Police's expert on anti-social behaviour, said: "Maybe we can get people to come to a joint understanding. We have already identified the worst areas and the kids we already know. We will get them and their parents together with the people who write in with complaints and use professional mediators.
"Each side will have the chance to explain their point of view to the other. If we can get 'neighbourhood contracts', with the support of parents, maybe we can get all the kids into one place and offer police support rather than having PCSOs chasing them around the estate.
"Some kids love causing anti-social behaviour and some wear ASBOs with pride. They need to be targeted with a different approach, with diversion tactics and intervention.
"It is those on the cusp who we want to reach. We are looking for a different approach to just using enforcement."
Police have been using increasingly stringent powers, such as Section 30 orders which put a curfew on certain areas for children at night and allow officers to break up gangs. They are effective but also labour intensive for police to enforce.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
