Sponsored by
'Pillar of shame' puts offenders in spotlight
Alexandra Wood
IT has given a new twist to the phrase pillar of the community.
Thugs are being publicly shamed by having their names prominently displayed on a pillar in the seaside resort of Bridlington in a move which has been described as the modern-day equivalent of the stocks.
The 8ft “public information” pillar, which was unveiled on the town’s Queen Street yesterday, bears the names and pictures of three young men, ranging from 14 to 22, who are all subject to anti-social behaviour orders.
The posters will stay up as long as police see fit – and woe betide anyone who tries to damage the pillar as it is watched by CCTV.
The idea – a first in the country – was the brainchild of Insp Steve Jackson, head of Bridlington police, Sgt Richard Kirven and town centre manager Denise Cowling.
Mrs Cowling said: “If the local community see they are breaching their order they can notify the correct authorities and it lets people see the police are directly taking action against that sort of behaviour. We are a coastal town so we want to attract tourism.
“We have a huge regeneration package going on and we don’t need anti-social behaviour blighting the investment coming into town.”
Insp Jackson said other individuals would feature in coming months: “We feel this is a better way of getting information out there. They are people who the community should be aware of, who they may come across committing further acts of anti-social behaviour.”
He added: “We considered all legalities and without wishing to victimise individuals we feel these are the lengths we should go to in a bid to make our town a better place.”
East Yorkshire Tory MP Greg Knight welcomed the move, saying: “If someone does not like the thought of their picture being displayed as someone who is a trouble-maker the remedy is simple – they should behave themselves.”
And Tory councillor Royston Rogers, who is campaigning for stocks to be brought back as punishment for anti-social behaviour in his Holme Valley North constituency in Huddersfield, said he thought it was a great idea. “At the moment we are fighting a losing battle and desperate times call for desperate measures. Every town or city in England should follow Bridlington’s example.”
But he believes putting people back in the stocks for a couple of hours on Saturday would prove a greater deterrent.
However a spokeswoman for human rights group Liberty said that publicly humiliating thugs could have a more negative affect than positive.
She said: “Unfortunately named-and-shamed Asbo recipients have in the past been spat on and their families ostracised. While anti-social behaviour is a real problem, giving an entire community tacit permission to punish individuals is not the way forward.”
She said the suggestion of bringing back the stocks was completely irresponsible.
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
